THE 


PORTRAIT  GALLERY  OF  THE  WAR, 


CIVIL,    MILITARY,    AND    NAVAL: 


A     BIOGRAPHICAL    RECORD 


KDITKD    BY 

FRANK     MOORE. 

u 


VVILTI-I 


OIsT 


NEW-YORK  : 
D.  TAX    NOSTKAND,   PrBLISHEIJ,   192  I3ROADWAV 

1  8  0  o  . 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1864. 
BY   Pr.    P.   PUTNAM, 

In  the  Clerk's  Ofl.ce  of  the  District  Court  of  tho  United  States,  for  the 
Southern  District  of   New  York. 


CONTENTS 


ABRAHAM   LINCOLN,    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.     Frontispiece. 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL   WINFIELD   SCOTT,    .  •  ^ 

MAJOR-GENERAL   ORMSBY   M.   MITCHEL, 

REAR-ADMIRAL   THEODORUS   BAILEY,       . 

40 
MAJOR-GENERAL  NATHANIEL  LYON, 

4u 
MAJOR-GENERAL  FRANZ  SIGEL,  . 

REAR-ADMIRAL   ANDREW   HULL   FOOTE, 

MAJOR-GENERAL  FREDERICK  W.   LANDER, 

6-' 
MAJOR-GENERAL  JOHN  ELLIS  WOOL,  ^ 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL   JOSHUA   WOODROW   SILL, 

MAJOR-GENERAL   ROBERT   ANDERSON, 

MAJOR   THEODORE   WINTIIROP,,  . 

HENRY   W.   BELLOWS, 

ADMIRAL   SAMUEL   FRANCIS   DU   PONT, 

LIEUTENANT   JOHN   TROUT   GREBLE, 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL   THOMAS   JONATHAN   JACKSON,    . 

127- 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL   V.    S.    GRANT,  ^ 

GENERAL   EDWARD   D.    BAKER,      . 

141 
MAJOR-GENERAL  0.  0.  HOWARD, 

SALMON  P.  CHASE, 

MAJOR-GENERAL   JOHN   POPE,  . 

ALEXANDER   II.   STEPHENS, 

MAJOR-GENERAL   0.   B.    WILLCOX, 

JEFFERSON   DAVIS, 

MAJOR-GENERAL   GEORGE   G.    MEADE, 

LIKUTENANT-GENERAI,    G.   T.    BEAUREGARD, 

MAJOR-GENERAL   SAMUEL   P.    HEINTZELMAN,  •  1" 

MAJOR-GENERAL  Q.    A.    GILLMORE, 

GENERAL   ROBERT   E.   LEE,       ... 

WILLIAM   H.    SKWARD,     . 

MAJOR-GENERAL   GEORGE   H.    THOMAS,  .  .  •  202 

MAJOR-GENERAL   C.    C,    WASHBURN,  .  .209 

MAJOR-GENERAL   W.   S.    HANCOCK,       . 

MAJOR-GENERAL   II.    W.  -HALLECK,  ...  •  210 

MAJOR-GENERAL   JAMES   S.    WADSWORTH,      .  .  • 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL   LEONIDAS  POLK,     ......  .228 


IV  CONTENTS. 

PACK 

MAJOR-GENERAL   JOHN   ADAMS   DIX,   .  .......  281 

ADMIRAL   D.   D.   PORTER,     .  .  ......        235 

MAJOR-GENERAL   N.   P.    BANKS,  ......  .  238 

MAJOR-GENERAL  PHILIP   KEARNY,  .  .  .  .  .  .245 

MAJOR-GENERAL   BENJAMIN   F.    BUTLER,        ...  ...  248 

MAJOR-GENERAL  LOVELL   H.    ROUSSEAU,.  ...  .         253 

MAJOR-GENERAL   J.   E.   B.   STUART,      .  ?.  256 

ADMIRAL   D.    G.   FARRAGUT, '        .  .  .261 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL   JAMES   LONGSTREET,  .  .  ....   265 

JAMES   LOUIS   PETIGRU,  ........  .268 

CHARLES   SUMNER,      .....  .  .  271 

MAJOR-GENERAL   WILLIAM   FARRAN   SMITH,        .  ...  .278 

MAJOR-GENERAL   GEORGE   B.    McCLELLAN,     .  ....  283 

MAJOR-GENERAL   DAVID   HUNTER,  .  .  .....         292 

MAJOR-GENERAL   GEORGE   STONEMAN,  ...  ....  296 

MAJOR-GENERAL  WILLIAM   STARKE   ROSECRANS,  299 

MAJOR-GENERAL   JOHN   G.   FOSTER,      .  ....  307 

MAJOR-GENERAL   JOHN   C.   FREMONT,         .  .....         311 

MAJOR-GENERAL   JOHN   SEDGWICK,      .  ......  319 

MAJOR-GENERAL  AMBROSE  E.   BURNSIDE,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .325 

EDWIN   M.   STANTON, .  .  .  .......  337 

MAJOR-GENERAL   JOSEPH   HOOKER,  .......         340 

CAPTAIN  JOHN    RODGERS,       .  .  .......  345 

ADMIRAL   CHARLES   HENRY   DAVIS, 349 


ABKAHAM   LINCOLN. 

PEESIDENTS  must  first  be  candidates,  and  candidates  are  public  property, 
for  all  the  great  purposes  of  defamation  and  personal  abuse ;  when  one  is 
named  for  the  Presidency,  a  large  section  of  the  press,  and  a  great  portion  of  the 
people,  find  a  direct  interest  in  the  propagation  of  whatever  may  tend  to  render 
contemptible  the  person  named,  and  to  make  him  appear  unfit  for  any  position 
of  dignity  or  trust.  Hence  the  present  President  is  known  over  a  great  part  of 
the  country  as  "the  baboon,"  and  respectable  writers  in  Europe  have  lamented 
the  result  of  universal  suffrage  in  his  election ;  though  perhaps  no  man  ever 
occupied  the  same  position  who  in  himself  and  in  his  personal  history  was  more 
truly  representative  of  all  that  is  best  in  the  American  people. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  was  born  in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky  (at  a  place  now 
included  in  La  Eue  county),  February  12th,  1809.  •  His  ancestors  were  Quakers, 
and  migrated  from  Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  to  Eockingham  county,  Virginia, 
whence  his  grandfather  Abraham  removed  with  his  family  to  Kentucky,  about 
1782,  and  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1784.  Thomas  Lincoln,  the  father  of 
Abraham,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  the  President's  mother,  Nancy  Hanks,  was 
also  a  native  of  that  state.  Thomas  Lincoln  removed  with  his  family  in  1816  to 
a  district  now  included  in  Spencer  county,  Indiana,  where  Abraham,  then  large 
for  his  age,  assisted  with  an  axe  to  clear  away  the  forest.  For  the  next  ten  years 
he  was  mostly  occupied  in  this  arid  other  equally  hard  work  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  in  this  period  he  went  to  school  a  little  at  intervals  ;  but  the  whole  time  of 
his  attendance  at  school  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  not  more  than  a  year. 
He  never  went  to  school  subsequently.  His  first  experience  of  the  world  beyond 
home  was  acquired  on  a  flat-boat,  upon  which  he  made  the  trip  to  New  Orleans 
as  a  hired  hand,  when  nineteen  years  of  age.  The  advantages  of  travel  under 
these  circumstances  are  not  great.  Flat-boats  it  is  true  have  been  made  the 
centre  of  a  certain  kind  of  free,  western  romance,  and  to  float  down  the  Ohio  and 
the  Mississippi  in  happy  companionship  with  the  "jolly  flat-boat  man,"  looks 
very  pretty  in  a  picture ;  especially  if  the  picture  be  well  painted,  like  Mount's. 
But  unfortunately  all  flat-boat  men  were  not  jolly,  and  flat-boats  didn't  always 
float,  flat-boat  men  were  not  the  chosen  of  the  human  race,  except  perhaps  for  rough 
ness,  and  flat-boats  had  very  often  to  be  poled  along ;  there  was  much  of  coarse 


ABRAHAM      LINCOLN. 


association  for  a  boy  to  struggle  against,  and  a  deal  of  hard  work  to  be  done. 
On  the  other  hand  such  travel  is  not  delusive,  it  does  not  permit  life  to  look  the 
least  like  a  holiday  affair,  nor  unfit  the  wanderer  for  a  sober  return  to  the  quiet 
ness  of  home.  Young  Lincoln  at  the  least  travelled  in  a  practical  American  man 
ner,  saw  something  of  the  world,  and  got  paid  for  it. 

Settlers  are  a  most  unsettled  generation,  and  in  .March,  1830,  Thomas 
Lincoln  migrated  again ;  this  time  to  Macon  county,  Illinois.  Abraham  accom 
panied  his  father  to  the  new  home,  and  there  helped  to  build  a  log-cabin  for  the 
family,  and  to  split  enough  rails  to  fence  ten  acres  of  land.  From  this  he  has 
been  called  the  Rail-splitter.  Now,  to  split  rails  has  been  a  necessary  piece  01 
labor  since  the  days  of  Milo  of  Crotona,  who  was  a  rail-splitter  in  his  time ;  and 
while  that  occupation  may  not  qualify  a  man  for  statesmanship,  the  name  of 
Rail-splitter  is  a  better  one  than  Hair-splitter ;  moreover,  while  a  man's  career 
and  the  words  he  has  spoken  show  his  brain  to  be  a  good  one,  it  is  no  harm 
to  him  before  the  people  to  be  able  to  show  a  good  muscular  record.  Young 
Lincoln's  flat-boat  trip  soon  proved  to  be  an  advantage,  and  in  1831  he  was 
engaged,  at  twelve  dollars  a  month,  to  assist  in  the  construction  of  a  flat-boat,  and 
subsequently  in  its  navigation  down  the  river  to  New  Orleans.  He  acquitted 
himself  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  employer,  who  upon  his  return  put  him  in 
charge  of  a  store  and  mill  at  New  Salem,  then  in  Sangamon,  now  in  Menard 
county,  Illinois.  But  these  peaceful  successes  were  soon  lost  sight  of  in  the 
excitement  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  which  broke  out  in  1832.  Lincoln  joined  a 
company  of  volunteers,  and  was  elected  their  captain,  an  event  which  gave  him 
a  great  deal  of  pleasure.  He  served  through  a  campaign  of  three  months,  and 
on  his  return  home  was  nominated  by  the  Whigs  of  his  district  as  a  candidate 
for  the  state  legislature ;  but  the  county  was  Democratic  and  he  was  defeated, 
though  in  his  own  immediate  neighborhood  he  received  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven  votes,  while  only  seven  were  cast  ag'ainst  him.  These  indications  of 
personal  popularity  nattered  and  stimulated  to  future  effort,  and  were  thus  not 
without  their  effect  upon  a  young  man  looking  for  a  career.  His  next  venture 
was  the  establishment  of  a  country  store,  which  did  not  prove  prosperous,  and 
which  he  relinquished  to  become  postmaster  of  New  Salem.  While  in  this  position 
he  began  to  study  law,  and  borrowed  for  that  purpose  the  books  of  a  neighboring 
practitioner ;  the  books  were  taken  at  night,  and  returned  in  the  morning  before 
they  could  be  needed  in  the  lawyer's  office.  Upon  the  offer  of  the  surveyor  of  San 
gamon  county,  to  depute  to  him  a  portion  of  the  work  of  the  county  surveyor's 
office,  Mr.  Lincoln  procured  a  compass  and  chain  and  a  treatise  on  surveying, 
and  did  the  work.  In  1834  he  was  again  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  the 
legislature,  and  was  elected  by  the  largest  vote  cast  for  any  candidate  in  the 
state.  He  was  re-elected  in  1836,  and  in  the  same  year  was  licensed  to  practise 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN.  3 

law.  From  New  Salem  he  removed  in  April,  1837,  to  Springfield,  and  there 
opened  a  law  office  in  partnership  with  Major  John  F.  Stuart.  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
re-elected  to  the  state  legislature  in  the  years  1836  and  1840,  and  meanwhile 
rose  rapidly  to  distinction  in  his  profession,  becoming  especially  eminent  as  an 
advocate  in  jury  trials.  He  was  also  several  times  a  candidate  for  presidential 
elector,  and  as  such  canvassed  all  of  Illinois  and  part  of  Indiana  for  Henry  Clay, 
in  1844,  and  made  speeches  before  large  audiences  almost  every  day. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  a  representative  in  Congress  from  the  central  district 
of  Illinois  in  1846,  and  took  his  seat  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  1847. 
His  congressional  career  was  consistently  that  of  one  who  believed  in  freedom 
and  respected  the  laws.  He  voted  forty-two  times  in  favor  of  the  Wilmot 
proviso.  He  voted  for  the  reception  of  anti-slavery  memorials  and  petitions  ;  for 
an  inquiry  into  the  constitutionality  of  slavery  in  the  district  of  Columbia,  and 
the  expediency  of  abolishing  the  slave-trade  in  the  district ;  and  on  January  16th, 
1849,  he  offered  to  the  House  a  scheme  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  district, 
and  for  the  compensation  of  slave-owners  from  the  United  States  treasury, 
provided  a  majority  of  the  citizens  of  the  district  should  vote  for  the  acceptance 
of  the  act.  He  opposed  the  annexation  of  Texas,  but  voted  for  the  loan  bill  to 
enable  the  government  to  carry  on  the  Mexican  war,  and  for  various  resolutions 
to  prohibit  slavery  in  the  territory  to  be  acquired  from  Mexico.  He  voted  also 
in  favor  of  a  protective  tariff,  and  of  selling  the  public  lands  at  the  lowest  cost 
price.  In  1849  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate,  but  was  defeated. 
Upon  the  expiration  of  his  congressional  term  Mr.  Lincoln  applied  himself  to  his 
profession ;  but  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compromise  called  him  again  into  the 
political  arena,  and  he  entered  energetically  the  canvass  which  was  to  decide  the 
choice  of  a  Senator  to  succeed  General  Shields.  The  Kepublican  triumph,  and 
the  consequent  election  of  Judge  Trumbull  to  the  Senate,  were  attributed  mainly 
to  his  efforts.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  ineffectually  urged  as  a  candidate  for  the  vice- 
presidency  in  the  national  convention  which  nominated  Colonel  Fremont  in  1856. 
He  was  unanimously  nominated  candidate  for  United  States  Senator  in  opposi 
tion  to  Mr.  Douglas  by  the  Eepublican  state  convention  at  Springfield,  June  2d, 
1858,  and  canvassed  the  state  with  his  opponent,  speaking  on  the  same  day  at 
the  same  place.  In  the  course  of  this  canvass,  and  in  reply  to  certain  questions 
or  statements  of  Mr.  Douglas,  Mr.  Lincoln  made  the  following  declarations :  "  I  do 
not  now,  nor  ever  did,  stand  in  favor  of  the  unconditional  repeal  of  the  fugitive 
slave  law.  I  do  not  now,  nor  ever  did,  stand  pledged  against  the  admission  of  any 
more  slave  states  into  the  Union.  I  do  not  stand  pledged  against  the  admission  of 
a  new  state  into  the  Union  with  such  a  constitution  as  the  people  of  that  state  may 
see  fit  to  make.  ...  I  am  impliedly,  if  not  expressly,  pledged  to  a  belief  in  the 
right  and  duty  of  Congress  to  prohibit  slavery  in  all  the  United  States  territories." 


4:  ABRAHAM      LINCOLN. 

In  explanation  he  said,  "  In  regard  to  the  fugitive  slave  law,  I  have  never  hesitat 
ed  to  say,  and  I  do  not  now  hesitate  to  say,  that  I  think,  under  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States,  the  people  of  the  Southern  states  are  entitled  to  a  congressional 
fugitive  slave  law.  ....  In  regard  to  the  question  of  whether  I  am  pledged  to  the 
admission  of  any  more  slave  states  into  the  Union,  I  state  to  you  very  frankly  that 
I  would  be  exceedingly  sorry  ever  to  be  put  in  a  position  of  having  to  pass  upon 
that  question.  I  should  be  exceedingly  glad  to  know  that  there  would  never  be 
another  slave  state  admitted  into  the  Union  ;  but  I  must  add  that,  if  slavery  shall 
be  kept  out  of  the  territories,  during  the  territorial  existence  of  any  one  given 
territory,  and  then  the  people  shall,  having  a  fair  chance  and  a  clear  field,  when 
they  come  to  adopt  their  constitution,  do  such  an  extraordinary  thing  as  adopt  a 
slave  constitution  uninfluenced  by  the  actual  presence  of  the  institution  among 
them,  I  see  no  alternative,  if  we  own  the  country,  but  to  admit  them  into  the 
Union."  Assertions  like  this  should  be  a  sufficient  answer  to  those  who  pro 
nounce  Mr.  Lincoln  an  abolitionist.  The  Eepublican  candidates  pledged  to  the 
election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  received  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  two  hun 
dred  and  seventy-five  votes ;  the  Douglas  candidates  received  one  hundred  and 
twenty-one  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety  votes ;  and  the  Lecompton  candi 
dates  five  thousand  and  seventy-one.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  thus,  on  the  popular 
vote,  a  clear  majority  over  Mr.  Douglas  of  four  thousand  and  eighty-five;  but 
Mr.  Douglas  was  elected  Senator  by  the  legislature,  in  which  his  supporters  had 
a  majority  of  eight  on  joint  ballot. 

Mr.  Lincoln  acquired  a  national  reputation  mainly  through  his  contest  with 
Senator  Douglas,  and  it  consequently  excited  much  surprise  when,  in  the  Re 
publican  national  convention  assembled  at  Chicago,  his  name  was  put  forward  in 
connection  with  the  Presidency.  Many  prominent  Eepublicans  did  not  hesitate 
to  declare  their  further  support  of  the  party  conditional  upon  the  nomination  of 
Mr.  Seward ;  but  the  availability  of  Mr.  Lincoln  was  persistently  urged  by  those 
who  considered  his  most  prominent  opponent  too  conspicuously  committed  to 
the  unpopular  opposition  to  slavery  interests.  The  whole  number  of  votes  in 
the  convention  was  four  hundred  and  sixty-five,  and  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  were  necessary  to  a  choice.  Mr.  Seward  led  on  the  first  two  ballots ;  and 
on  the  third,  Mr.  Lincoln  received  three  hundred  and  fifty-four  votes,  and  his 
nomination  was  declared  unanimous.  His  opponents  for  the  Presidency  in  other 
parties  were  brought  forward  in  such  a  manner,  that  the  country  was  geographi 
cally  divided,  and  the  contest  was  made  almost  exclusively  sectional.  By  the 
extreme  course  of  the  Southern  press,  the  sectional  feature  of  the  contest  was 
more  clearly  brought  out,  and  it  was  forced  upon  the  North  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
exclusively  its  own  candidate ;  and  the  disruption  of  the  country  was  openly 
threatened  in  the  event  of  his  election.  From  this  it  resulted  that  Mr.  Lincoln 


ABRAHAM    LINCOLN.  5 

received  at  the  North  a  support  that  he  could  never  have  received  on  his  party 
account,  and  with  three  other  candidates  in  the  field  his  popular  vote  was  one 
million  eight  hundred  and  fifty-seven  thousand  six  hundred  and  ten.  His  vote 
in  the  electoral  college  was  one  hundred  and  eighty,  against  one  hundred  and 
forty-three  for  all  others ;  and  the  gentleman  who  had  received  the  largest  oppo 
sing  vote,  John  C.  Breckenridge,  declared  from  his  place  as  president  of  the 
Senate,  February  13th,  1861,  that  "Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois,  having  re 
ceived  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  electoral  votes,  was  duly  elected  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States  for  the  four  years  commencing  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1861." 

Mr.  Lincoln  arrived  in  Philadelphia,  on  his  way  to  the  capital,  February 
21st;  and  he  there  received  full  and  accurate  information,  through  the  detective 
police,  of  the  particulars  of  a  plan  for  his  assassination  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore 
when  he  should  reach  that  city.  On  the  next  day  he  visited  Harrisburg,  spoke 
before  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  and  that  night  returned  privately,  but 
not  disguised,  to  Philadelphia,  whence  he  took  the  regular  night  train  for  Wash 
ington,  and,  without  change  of  cars,  arrived  in  the  capital  shortly  after  six,  A.  M., 
of  February  23d.  He  was  duly  inaugurated  on  the  4th  of  March,  and  upon  that 
occasion  he  said :  "  Apprehension  seems  to  exist  among  the  people  of  the  South 
ern  states  that,  by  the  accession  of  a  Republican  administration,  their  property 
and  their  peace  and  personal  security  are  to  be  endangered.  There  has  never 
been  any  reasonable  cause  for  such  apprehension.  Indeed,  the  most  ample  evi 
dence  to  the  contrary  has  all  the  while  existed,  and  been  open  to  their  inspec 
tion.  It  is  found  in  nearly  all  the  published  speeches  of  him  who  now  addresses 
you.  I  do  but  quote  from  one  of  those  speeches  when  I  declare  that  '  I  have  no 
purpose,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  interfere  with  the  institution  of  slavery  in  the 
states  where  it  exists.'  I  believe  I  have  no  lawful  right  to  do  so,  and  I  have  no 

inclination  to  do  so I  consider  that,  in  view  of  the  constitution,  the  Union 

is  unbroken,  and  to  the  extent  of  my  ability  I  shall  take  care,  as  the  constitution 
itself  expressly  enjoins  upon  me,  that  the  laws  of  the  Union  shall  be  faithfully 
executed  in  all  the  states." 

For  some  time  previous  to  the  election,  resistance  to  the  laws  had  been  de 
termined  upon  in  the  event  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  success ;  and  on  December  20th  a 
convention  assembled  in  South  Carolina  had  declared  that  state  out  of  the  Union. 
During  the  months  of  January  and  February,  1861,  the  states  of  Mississippi,  Ala 
bama,  Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  and  Texas,  had  been  also  declared  out  of  the 
Union  in  a  similar  manner ;  and  a  congress  of  representatives  from  those  states 
had  convened  at  Montgomery,  in  Alabama,  February  6th,  had  chosen  a  Presi 
dent,  and  proceeded  otherwise  to  organize  a  new  government.  Such  was  the 
position  of  affairs  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  inauguration.  Only  a  day  after  it, 


6  ABRAHAM      LINCOLN. 

Peter  GL  T.  Beauregard,  an  officer  of  the  United  States  army,  but  involved  in 
the  rebellion,  was  ordered  by  the  rebel  President  to  the  command  of  the  forces 
assembled  for  the  investment  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  on  March  9th,  the  so-called 
Confederate  Congress  passed  an  act  for  the  establishment  and  organization  of  an 
army.  Yet  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not  entirely  despair  of  a  settlement  of  the  trouble 
without  war,  and  the  policy  chosen  by  him,  to  use  his  own  words,  "  looked  to 
the  exhaustion  of  all  peaceful  measures  before  a  resort  to  any  stronger  ones." 
He  therefore  '^sought  only  to  hold  the  public  places  and  property  not  already 
wrested  from  the  government,  and  to  collect  the  revenue,  relying  for  the  rest  on 
time,  discussion  and  the  ballot-box.  He  promised  a  continuance  of  the  mails,  at 
government  expense,  to  the  very  people  who  were  resisting  the  government,  and 
gave  repeated  pledges  against  any  disturbances  to  any  of  the  people,  or  to  any  of 
their  rights.  Of  all  that  which  a  President  might  constitutionally  and  justifi 
ably  do  in  such  a  case,  every  thing  was  forborne,  without  which  it  was  believed 
possible  to  keep  the  government  on  foot." 

But  this  was  of  no  avail,  and  in  a  little  more  than  a  month  after  Mr. 
Lincoln's  accession  to  office,  Fort  Sumter  in  Charleston  harbor  was  attacked, 
and  "  bombarded  to  its  fall."  The  bombardment  and  surrender  were  concluded 
on  the  thirteenth  of  April,  and  on  the  fifteenth  the  President  issued  his  first 
proclamation — by  which  he  called  out  "  the  militia  of  the  several  states  of  the 
Union  to  the  aggregate  number  of  seventy -five  thousand,  in  order  to  suppress 
rebellious  combinations,  and  to  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  executed;"  and  con 
vened  both  houses  of  Congress  in  extra  session.  By  subsequent  proclamations 
he  declared  the  complete  blockade  of  all  the  ports  of  the  United  States  south  of 
the  Chesapeake ;  increased  the  regular  army  by  twenty-two  thousand,  and  the 
navy  by  eighteen  thousand  men,  and  called  for  volunteers  to  serve  during  three 
years,  to  the  number  of  five  hundred  thousand.  "  These  measures,  whether 
strictly  legal  or  not,  were  ventured  upon  under  what  appeared  to  be  a  popular 
demand  and  a  public  necessity ;  trusting  that  Congress  would  readily  ratify 
them." 

Congress  readily  did  so.  Further  reference  to  these  affairs  was  made  by 
the  President  in  his  first  message  to  Congress  in  these  noble  words :  "It  was 
with  the  deepest  regret  that  the  executive  found  the  duty  of  employing  the  war 
power  in  defence  of  the  government  forced  upon  him.  He  could  but  perform  this 
duty,  or  surrender  the  existence  of  the  government.  No  compromise  by  public 
servants  could,  in  this  case,  be  a  cure — not  that  compromises  are  not  often 
proper ;  but  that  no  popular  government  can  long  survive  a  marked  precedent 
that  those  who  carry  an  election  can  only  save  the  government  from  immediate 
destruction,  by  giving  up  the  main  point  upon  which  the  people  gave  the  elec 
tion.  The  people  themselves,  and  not  their  servants,  can  safely  reverse  their  own 


ABRAHAM     LINCOLN.  7 

deliberate  decision.  As  a  private  citizen,  the  executive  could  not  have  consented 
that  those  institutions  should  perish,  much  less  could  he  in  betrayal  of  so  vast  and 
so  sacred  a  trust  as  these  ""free  people  had  confided  to  him.  lie  felt  that  he  had 
no  moral  right  to  shrink,  nor  even  to  count  the  chances  of  his  own  life  in  what 
might  follow.  In  full  view  of  his  great  responsibility  he  has  so  far  done  what  he 
has  deemed  his  duty.  You  will  now,  according  to  your  own  judgment,  perform 
yours." 

On  the  sixteenth  of  August,  1861,  President  Lincoln  issued  his  proclamation 
prohibiting  intercourse  with  the  States  in  insurrection,  excepting  West-Virginia 
and  North-Carolina,  as  well  as  the  parts  of  States  which  were  loyal.  On  the 
thirty-first  of  March,  1863,  he  issued  another  proclamation  on  this  subject,  revok 
ing  the  exceptions,  save  only  West-Virginia  and  the  four  ports  of  New- Orleans, 
Key  West,  Port  Eoyal,  and  Beaufort,  N.  C. 

The  impatience  of  some  of  his  generals  with  the  toleration  of  slave  property 
among  the  rebels,  which  was  used  for  the  maintenance  of  the  rebellion,  either 
directly  or  indirectly,  led  them  to  issue  general  orders  emancipating  all  the  slaves 
of  persons  known  to  be  in  rebellion  within  their  commands.  General  Fremont 
was  the  first  to  do  this  in  Missouri,  August  thirty-first,  1861.  The  President, 
believing  that  matters  were  not  ripe  for  such  a  movement,  modified  his  order  in  a 
published  letter.  General  Hunter  repeated  the  act  in  May,  1862,  extending  it 
over  a  region  where  he  possessed  no  military  authority.  The  President  repudi 
ated  his  proclamation  as  injudicious  and  untimely,  reserving  to  himself,  however, 
the  right  to  take  such  a  step  as  commander-in-chief  when  it  should  become  a  mili 
tary  necessity.  That  period  was  fast  approaching.  In  August,  1862,  Horace 
Greeley,  editor  of  the  New- York  Tribune,  addressed  him  a  letter  in  the  columns 
of  his  paper,  urging  the  necessity  of  taking  the  ground  of  emancipation.  Mr. 
Lincoln  replied,  on  the  twenty-second  of  August,  in  a  brief  but  characteristic 
letter,  in  which  he  avowed  his  determination  to  do  all  in  his  power  for  the  salva 
tion  of  the  Union,  proclaiming  emancipation  or  not,  as  should  seem  to  him  most 
advisable  for  the  attainment  of  that  object.  The  progress  of  events,  however, 
soon  satisfied  him  of  the  necessity  of  such  a  movement,  and  on  the  twenty-second 
of  September  he  issued  a  preliminary  proclamation,  announcing  that  on  the  first 
of  January,  1863,  he  should  declare  the  emancipation  of  all  slaves  in  the  States, 
or  parts  of  States,  which  should  then  be  in  insurrection,  but  that  he  would  except 
in  his  proclamation  all  States  which  should  before  that  time  return  to  their  alle 
giance.  The  proclamation  thus  foreshadowed  was  issued  on  the  New- Year's  day, 
and  soon  after  arrangements  were  made  for  the  raising  of  colored  regiments. 

While  the  Border  States  and  such  portions  of  Tennessee,  Louisiana,  and  West- 
Virginia  as  were  loyal  or  under  the  control  of  the  Union  forces  were  specially  ex 
empted  from  the  operations  of  this  proclamation,  it  was  the  earnest  desire  of 


8  ABRAHAM     LINCOLN. 

President  Lincoln  that  these  States  should  adopt  some  plan  of  gradual  emancipa 
tion,  and  this  desire  was  manifested  by  him  repeatedly  during  the  year  1862  and 
subsequently.  On  the  sixth  of  March,  1862,  he  sent  a  message  to  Congress,  re 
commending  the  passage  of  a  joint  resolution  pledging  the  cooperation  of  the 
United  States  in  the  way  of  pecuniary  aid  to  any  State- which  should  adopt  a  sys 
tem  of  gradual  and  compensated  emancipation.  On  the  twelfth  of  July  he 
solicited  and  held  an  interview  with  the  members  of  Congress  from  the  Border 
slave  States,  in  which  he  urged  upon  them  the  importance  of  the  measure,  and 
recommended  it  in  his  message  of  December  third,  1862.  These  recommenda 
tions  have  taken  and  are  still  taking  effect. 

The  increasing  proportions  of  the  rebellion  requiring  a  larger  force  in  the 
field,  Mr.  Lincoln,  on  the  first  of  July,  1862,  in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  the 
Governors  of  the  loyal  States,  called  for  three  hundred  thousand  more  volunteers 
for  three  years  or  the  war ;  and  on  the  third  of  August  called  for  a  draft  of  three 
hundred  thousand  more  for  nine  months.  In  most  of  the  States  this  second 
quota  was  raised  by  volunteering,  and  the  draft  was  resorted  to  for  but  a  few 
thousands.  The  time  of  service  of  these  troops,  however,  proved  too  short,  and 
the  arrangements  for  drafting  were  defective  and  unequal.  Accordingly,  on  the 
twenty-eighth  of  February,  1863,  Congress  passed  a  carefully  considered  conscrip 
tion  law,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year  the  President  gave  notice  of  a  draft  for 
three  hundred  thousand  men  to  serve  for  three  years.  There  was  considerable 
opposition  to  the  draft,  the  provisions  of  which  were  not  well  understood  at  first, 
and,  in  some  instances,  there  were  considerable  riots,  but  the  President  wisely 
insisted  on  its  enforcement,  and,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Seymour,  of  New- York, 
assigned  satisfactory  reasons  for  so  doing.  The  draft  not  bringing  in  a  sufficiency 
of  recruits,  he  called,  on  the  twentieth  of  October,  1863,  for  three  hundred  thou 
sand  more  volunteers. 

In  a  letter,  bearing  date  June  thirteenth,  1863,  addressed  to  a  committee  of 
Albany  Democrats,  who  had  protested  against  the  arrest  of  Mr.  Yallandigham  and 
demanded  his  release,  President  Lincoln  clearly  and  satisfactorily  defended  the 
principle  of  military  arrests  in  time  of  civil  war ;  and  in  another,  addressed  to  the 
Springfield,  Illinois,  and  Syracuse,  New- York,  Union  Conventions, .  he  justified, 
with  singular  ability,  the  employment  of  the  negro  to  aid  in  putting  down  the 
rebellion. 


j    / 

r/     (   <     .<  (  /  I / 

I 


WINFIELD    SCOTT. 

"YTTINFIELD  SCOTT  was  born  near  Petersburgh,  Virginia,  June  thirteenth, 
T  T  1786 ;  was  the  youngest  son  of  William  Scott,  Esq.,  and  was  left  an 
orphan  at  an  early  age.  He  was  educated  at  the  high-school  at  Eichmond,  whence 
he  went  to  William  and  Mary  College,  and  attended  law  lectures.  He  was  ad 
mitted  to  the  bar  of  Virginia  in  1806.  The  next  year  he  went  to  South-Caro 
lina  with  the  intention  to  take  up  his  residence-  there ;  but  before  he  had  ac 
quired  the  right  to  practise  in  that  State,  Congress,  in  view  of  imminent  hos 
tilities  with  England,  passed  a  bill  to  enlarge  the  army,  and  young  Scott 
obtained  a  commission  as  Captain  of  light  artillery. 

General  Wilkinson  was  then  stationed  in  Louisiana,  and  Captain  Scott  was 
ordered  to  join  the  army  at  that  point  in  1809.  In  the  next  year  Wilkinson 
was  superseded,  and  the  young  Captain  then  expressed  what  was  a  very  general 
opinion,  namely,  that  his  late  commander  was  implicated  in  Burr's  conspiracy. 
For  this  he  was  tried  by  court-martial,  and  sentenced  to  one  year's  suspension 
from  rank  and  pay.  Probably  this  suspension  was  a  fortunate  event ;  for  the 
whole  of  that  year  was  employed  in  the  diligent  study  of  works  on  mili 
tary  art. 

War  was  declared  against  Great  Britain  June  eighteenth,  1812  ;  and  in 
July  of  the  same  year  Captain  Scott  was  made  a  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the 
Second  artillery,  and  was  stationed  at  Black  Eock  with  two  companies  of  his 
regiment.  With  this  force  he  covered  Van  Eensselaer's  passage  of  the  Nia 
gara  Eiver  on  the  expedition  against  Queenstown,  October  thirteenth.  Later 
in  the  day,  when  Van  Eensselaer  was  disabled,  the  command  fell  upon  Scott, 
who,  after  a  gallant  fight,  deserted  by  the  New-York  militia,  and  outnumbered 
Very  greatly  by  British  reinforcements,  surrendered  his  whole  command,  two 
hundred  and  ninety-three  in  all,  prisoners  of  war. 

While  a  prisoner,  he  saw  the  British  officers  select  from  the  American 
soldiers  taken  with  him  such  as  appeared  to  be  Irishmen ;  and  these  men, 
they  declared,  were  to  be  sent  to  England  as  British  subjects,  there  to  be 
punished  for  treason.  Scott  then,  in  the  presence  of  the  British  officers,  as 
sured  the  soldiers  that  the  United  States  Government  would  not  quietly  see 
them  suffer,  and  would  certainly  retaliate  upon  British  prisoners  the  treatment 
they  should  receive.  Exchanged  in  January,  1813,  he  immediately  made  a 


10  WINFIELD      SCOTT. 

report  of  this  matter  to  the  Secretary  of  War.  Laid  before  Congress,  this  re 
port  originated  the  act  by  which  the  President  of  the  United  States  was  in 
vested  with  "  the  power  of  retaliation ;"  and  from  prisoners  subsequently  taken 
by  himself,  Scott  chose  a  number  equal  to  the  number  sent  to  England  to 
abide  their  fate.  For  this  purpose  he  was  careful  to  choose  only  Englishmen. 

Immediately  after  the  capture  of  York,  Upper  Canada,  Scott  rejoined  the 
army  on  the  frontier  as  Adjutant  to  General  Dearborn,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel. 
He  took  part  in  the  expedition  against  Fort  George,  landed  his  men  in  good 
order,  and  scaled  a  steep  height  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy,  who  was  finally 
driven  from  his  position  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Fort  George  was  then 
no  longer  tenable,  and  the  British  abandoned  it,  having  placed  slow  matches 
to  all  the  magazines.  Only  one  of  them  exploded,  and  from  a  piece  of  timber 
thrown  by  it,  Colonel  Scott  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  left  shoulder. 
Disaster  and  disgrace  marked  the  close  of  this  campaign,  and  for  another  it 
was  necessary  to  form  a  new  army. 

In  March,  1814,  Colonel  Scott  was  made  a  Brigadier-General,  and  imme 
diately  thereafter  established  a  camp  of  instruction  at  Buffalo,  where  his  own 
and  Kipley's  brigades,  with  a  battalion  of  artillery,  and  some  regiments  of  vol 
unteers,  were  drilled  into  thorough  and  accurate  discipline. 

Brigadier-General  Scott  crossed  the  Niagara  Eiver  with  his  brigade,  July 
third,  1814  ;  on  the  fourth  skirmished  for  sixteen  miles  with  a  detachment  under 
the  Marquis  of  Tweedale,  and  that  night  encamped  upon  Street's  Creek,  two 
miles  from  the  British  camp  at  Chippewa.  Between  the  two  camps  lay  the 
plain  upon  which  the  battle  was  fought  next  day.  East  of  this  plain  was  the 
Niagara  River,  west  was  a  heavy  wood,  and  on  the  northern  side  from  the 
wood  to  the  Niagara  ran  the  Chippewa  River,  while  Street's  Creek  ran  in  a 
similar  direction  on  the  southern  side.  Behind  the  Chippewa  was  the  British 
army  under  General  Riall,  well  provided  with  artillery. 

About  noon  of  the  fifth,  a  bright,  hot  summer's  day,  there  occurred  a 
skirmish  of  light  troops  in  the  wood.  Some  Indians  and  British  militia  were 
there  engaged  by  General  Porter,  with  volunteers,  militia,  and  friendly  In 
dians,  and  driven  back  until  they  came  upon  the  main  body  of  the  British 
army,  which  was  seen  to  be  in  motion,  when  Porter's  irregulars  broke  and 
fled.  Major-General  Brown,  in  the  wood  with  Porter,  thus  first  learned  of  the 
British  advance ;  and  Brigadier-General  Scott,  also  ignorant  of  it,  was  leading 
his  brigade  into  the  plain  to  drill.  This  was  at  four  P.M.  Brown  hurried  to 
the  rear  to  bring  up  Ripley's  brigade,  and  Scott's  force  passed  the  bridge  over 
Street's  Creek  in  perfect  order  under  the  British  fire.  The  action  soon  be 
came  general.  Major  Jessup,  with  a  battalion  in  the  wood,  for  some  time 
checked  the  enemy's  right  wing,  whereupon  the  enemy  left  one  battalion  with 


WINFIELD  -SCOTT.  H 

him,  formed  a  new  right,  and  continued  to  advance.  The  British  line  was 
now  drawn  nearly  square  across  the  plain.  Opposed  was  a  battalion  under 
McNeill,  which  faced  his  right  obliquely,  and  another  under  Leavenworth, 
which  opposed  his  left  in  the  same  manner.  Scott's  line,  thus  formed,  and 
supported  by  Towson's  artillery  on  the  right,  continued  to  advance,  fire,  and 
halt,  until  it  was  within  eighty  paces  of  the  enemy,  when  McNeill's  and 
Leavenworth's  battalions,  almost  simultaneously,  charged  with  the  bayonet. 
This  shock  was  decisive  ;  the  British  army  broke  and  fled,  pursued  nearly 
to  its  intrenchments,  in  complete  rout.  The  American  loss  was  three  hun 
dred  and  twenty-seven,  the  enemy's  five  hundred  and  three ;  while  the  Amer- 
cans  engaged  numbered  only  one  thousand  nine  hundred,  and  the  British 
two  thousand  one  hundred.  Three  of  the  enemy's  regiments,  the  Royal 
Scots,  the  Queen's  Own,  and  the  Hundredth  regiment,  were  esteemed  the 
best  troops  in  the  British  army. 

Much  gloom  was  cleared  from  the  public  mind  by  this  battle ;  it  atoned 
for  many  disasters,  and  the  country  was  taught,  when  it  needed  most  to  know 
it,  that  American  soldiers,  in  proper  hands,  were  equal  to  those  whose  skill 
and  discipline  had  been  acquired  in  the  hard-fought  fields  of  the  Peninsular 
war.  "  Brigadier-General  Scott,"  said  General  Brown  in  his  official  report,  "  is 
entitled  to  the  highest  praise  our  country  can  bestow." 

With  Scott's  brigade  still  in  the  van,  the  American  army  passed  over  the 
Chippewa  two  days  after  the  battle,  and  the  British  army  retreated  before  it. 
But  to  mask  a  movement  against  Burlington  Heights,  a  feigned  retreat  was 
almost  immediately  made.  Should  this  fail  to  draw  the  enemy  out,  it  was 
intended  to  use  the  twenty-fifth  of  July  as  a  day  of  rest,  and  force  an  action 
on  the  twenty-sixth ;  but  on  the  twenty-fifth  word  came  that  a  portion  of  the 
enemy's  force  had  crossed  the  Niagara,  and  Scott  was  sent  forward  to  attack 
the  remainder  thus  weakened.  His  force  consisted  of  four  small  battalions  of 
infantry,  Towson's  battery,  and  a  detachment  of  cavalry,  one  thousand  three 
hundred  men  in  all.  About  two  miles  from  camp  he  came  upon  the  enemv 
drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  on  Lundy's  Lane.  No  British  troops  had  crossed 
the  Niagara,  and  Scott  was  now  in  front  of  the  same  army  he  had  beaten  on 
the  fifth,  swelled  with  a  heavy  reenforcement  which  had  come  up  unknown 
to  him  only  the  night  before.  Eetreat  must  have  a  bad  effect  on  the  force 
behind  him ;  to  stand  fast  was  impossible,  as  he  was  already  under  fire ;  he 
therefore  advanced,  determined  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check,  if  possible,  till 
the  whole  American  army  should  come  up.  The  battle  began  a  little  before 
sunset,  and  continued  into  the  night.  Major-General  Brown  arrived  upon  the 
field,  and  assumed  command  at  nine  P.M.  Then  the  enemy's  right,  in  an  at 
tempted  flank  movement,  had  been  driven  back  with  heavy  loss ;  his  left  was 


12  WINFIEJLD      SCOTT. 

cut  off  and  many  prisoners  taken;  his  centre  alone  remained  firm,  covered 
by  a  battery  on  a  hill,  which  was  finally  carried  by  the  bayonet. 

Scott  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  side  early  in  the  night,  and  at, 
eleven  o'clock  was  disabled  by  a  musket-ball  in  the  left  shoulder,  and  borne 
from  the  field. 

For  his  gallant  conduct  in  these  two  battles,  Scott  was  breveted  Major- 
General,  received  a  gold  medal  from  Congress,  and  was  tendered  a  position  in 
the  Cabinet  as  Secretary  of  War,  which  he  declined  in  favor  of  his  senior. 
While  yet  feeble  from  his  wounds,  he  went  to  Europe  by  order  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  for  the  restoration  of  his  health  and  for  professional  improvement. 
He. returned  home  in  1816,  and  in  March  of  the  following  year  was  married 
to  Miss  Maria  Mayo,  daughter  of  John  Mayo,  Esq.,  of  Kichmond,  Virginia. 

Ordered  to  the  command  of  the  forces  intended  to  act  against  the  savages 
in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  in  May,  1832,  General  Scott  reached  Prairie  du  Chien 
the  day  after  the  Battle  of  Bad  Axe,  which  ended  the  war,  and  in  time  only 
to  assist  in  the  preparation  of  the  treaties  thereupon  made  with  the  various 
tribes.  From  the  Western  frontier,  he  arrived  in  New- York  in  October,  1832, 
and  was  at  once  ordered  to  Charleston,  S.  C.  Nullification  had  there  agitated 
the  community  since  the  passage  of  the  revenue  act  of  1828,  and  in  1832  a 
State  convention  provided  for  resistance  to  the  objectionable  law.  President 
Jackson  pronounced  the  resistance  thus  proposed  incompatible  with  the  ex 
istence  of  the  Union ;  and  the  Governor  of  the  State  called  out  twelve  thou 
sand  volunteers.  General  Scott's  duty  at  Charleston  was  to  examine  the  forts 
in  the  harbor,  and  strengthen  and  reenforce  them  if  he  deemed  it  necessary ; 
and  he  was  ordered  to  act  subordinately  to  the  United  States  civil  authorities 
in  all  that  he  did,  but  to  prepare  for  any  danger.  Every  part  of  this  duty 
was  discharged  with  an  admirable  forbearance  and  delicacy,  which  tended 
greatly  to  soothe,  and  did  much  to  allay  the  angry  excitement ;  and  South- 
Carolina,  thus  firmly  met,  rescinded  her  nullification  ordinance. 

In  January,  1836,  Scott  was  ordered  to  Florida,  and  opened  a  campaign 
against  the  Indians  there,  which,  from  the  nature  of  the  country,  the  climate, 
inadequate  stores,  and  the  insufficiency  of  his  force,  proved  entirely  fruitless. 
Greater  success  crowned  his  efforts  against  the  Creek  Indians  in  the  same  year, 
and  all  went  on  'well  until,  in  July,  he  was  recalled,  that  inquiry  might  be 
made  into  his  first  failure.  Upon  full  deliberation,  the  court  of  inquiry  pro 
nounced  his  Seminole  campaign  "  well  devised,  and  prosecuted  with  energy, 
steadiness,  and  ability."  Yet  he  took  no  further  part  in  the  Florida  war, 
though  it  employed  the  Government  for  six  years  longer. 

Canada  became,  in  1837,  the  scene  of  great  political  excitement,  and  all 
along  the  northern  frontier  the  American  people  sympathized  with  the  patriot 


WIN  FIELD      SCOTT.  13 

party  over  the  line,  and  their  sympathy  became  active.  Navy  Island,  in  the 
Niagara  Eiver  and  within  the  British  line,  was  occupied  by  some  hundreds  of 
Americans,  who  kept  up  communication  with  the  American  side  by  the  small 
steamer  Caroline ;  and  this  steamer,  while  at  the  wharf  on  the  American  side, 
was  cut  loose  at  night  by  a  British  force,  fired,  and  sent  over  the  Falls.  Great 
excitement  spread  through  the  whole  country  with  the  news.  General  Scott  was 
ordered  to  the  point  January  fourth,  1838.  Through  the  remainder  of  the 
winter  he  was  occupied  in  the  organization  of  a  regular  and  volunteer  force ; 
but  at  the  same  time  he  exercised  everywhere  a  great  influence  for  peace, 
and  mainly  through  his  noble  exertions  in  this  direction  the  war-cloud 
passed  by. 

Again  he  was  ordered  to  the  Canada  line  in  the  next  year.  Hostile  move 
ments  were  then  on  foot  in  the  Maine  boundary  dispute.  Congress  had  appro 
priated  ten  millions  of  dollars,  and  authorized  the  President  to  call  and  accept 
volunteers.  British  troops  were  in  motion  toward  the  disputed  territory ;  the 
Maine  militia  was  ready  to  move,  and  correspondence  between  the  two  govern 
ments  had  come  to  an  end.  Yet  Scott,  from  his  first  appearance,  became  a  medi 
ator.  He  was  met  in  a  similar  spirit  on  the  other  side  by  Sir  John  Harvey,  of 
the  British  army,  with  whom  he  had  had  not  dissimilar  relations  in  the  campaign 
of  1814  ;  and  the  correspondence  begun  between  the  two  veterans  brought  about 
a  peaceful  solution  of  the  whole  difficulty. 

In  June,  1841,  upon  the  death  of  Major-General  Macomb,  General  Scott  be 
came  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  entire  army  of  the  United  States. 

War  with  Mexico  having  resulted  upon  the  annexation  of  Texas,  General 
Scott  was  ordered  to  that  country  in  November,  1846,  and  reached  the  Eio  Grande 
in  January,  1847.  The  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Eesaca  de  la  Palma,  had  then 
been  fought,  and  the  town  of  Monterey  taken. 

General  Santa  Anna  was  at  San  Luis  Potosi,  with  twenty  thousand  men. 
Taylor  was  at  Monterey  with  eighteen  thousand,  and  Scott  had  with  him  only  a 
small  portion  of  the  force  with  which  it  had  been  arranged  that  he  should  act 
against  Yera  Cruz.  Government,  busied  only  with  the  attempt  to  supersede  him 
by  the  appointment  of  a  civilian  to  the  post  of  Lieutenant-General,  virtually  aban 
doned  Scott  to  his  fate.  Santa  Anna  knew  that  Yera  Cruz  was  to  be  attempted, 
and  how  he  would  act  was  doubtful.  Scott,  in  this  juncture,  drew  from  Taylor's 
force  enough  regular  infantry  to  swell  his  own  force  to  twelve  thousand.  With 
this  number  he  moved  forward  and  invested  Yera  Cruz  March  twelfth ;  on  the 
twenty-second  the  bombardment  was  begun.  Arrangements  were  made  to  cany 
the  city  by  storm  on  the  twenty-sixth,  but  on  that  day  overtures  of  surrender 
were  made  by  the  Governor,  and  were  completed  on  the  twenty-seventh.  Ten 
days  later  the  army,  eight  thousand  strong,  took  the  road  to  the  City  of  Mexico, 


14  WIN  FIELD      SCOTT. 

defeated  the  Mexican  army,  fifteen  thousand  strong,  under  General  Santa  Anna, 
at  Cerro  Gordo,  April  eighteenth,  entered  Jalapa  the  day  after,  occupied  the  strong 
castle  and  town  of  La  Perote,  April  twenty-second,  and  the  city  of  Puebla,  May 
fifteenth.  Only  thirty -four  days  had  elapsed  from  the  investment  of  Vera  Cruz, 
and  there  were  already  taken  ten  thousand  prisoners  of  war,  ten  thousand  stand 
of  arms,  seven  hundred  cannon,  and  thirty  thousand  shells  and  shot. 

When  he  reached  Puebla,  Scott  had  left,  capable  of  the  march  on  the  City  of 
Mexico,  but  four  thousand  five  hundred  men  ;  but  at  Puebla  he  was  detained  by 
negotiations  for  peace,  which  proved  futile.  Meantime  reinforcements  arrived, 
and  the  army,  increased  by  these  to  the  number  of  ten  thousand,  again  moved  for 
ward  August  seventh. 

Every  practicable  road  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  within  the  valley  in  which  that 
city  lay,  was  now  held  by  parts  of  the  Mexican  army,  and  fortified  with  great 
skill.  Contreras,  San  Antonio,  and  Churubusco,  with  ten  batteries  in  all,  must 
of  necessity  be  carried,  as  they  could  not  be  turned,  nor  with  safety  left  behind. 
General  Valencia  held  Contreras  with  seven  thousand  troops,  and  twenty-two 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  Santa  Anna  had  twelve  thousand  men  in  the  woods  behind 
it.  After  an  indecisive  action  of  three  hours,  August  nineteenth,  the  United 
States  troops  stood  to  their  arms  all  night  in  roads  flooded  by  heavy  rain  that  fell 
incessantly,  and  at  daylight  on  the  twentieth  carried  the  place  by  storm.  So 
rapidly  was  the  latter  attack  made,  that  the  division  ordered  to  mask  it  by  a 
diversion  had  not  time  to  arrive ;  and  the  actual  fight  lasted  only  seventeen 
minutes. 

By  the  capture  of  Contreras,  Churubusco  was  taken  in  flank,  and  San  Antonio 
in  the  rear.  The  troops  were  immediately  moved  forward  to  attack  the  latter 
place,  when  the  enemy  evacuated  it.  Churubusco  only  remained ;  its  defences 
were  a  tete-de-pont  on  the  main  causeway,  and  a  convent  strongly  fortified.  After 
a  fierce  struggle,  both  these  defences  were  taken,  the  tete-de-pont  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet.  Upon  this  day  the  Mexican  loss  alone  exceeded,  by  three  thousand, 
the  whole  American  army. 

To  the  military  possession  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  it  was  yet  necessary  that  the 
castle  of  Chapultepec  should  fall.  Molino  del  Eey  and  Casa  de  Mata,  dependen 
cies  of  Chapultepec,  were  carried  by  assault  September  eighth  ;  heavy  siege-guns 
were  placed  in  battery  September  twelfth,  and  by  the  thirteenth  had  made  a  prac 
ticable  breach  in  the  walls  of  the  Military  College,  which  was  stormed  the  same 
day.  From  Chapultepec,  Mexico  City  is  within  range,  yet  it  still  resisted,  and  two 
divisions  of  the  army  skirmished  all  day  at  the  city  gates ;  but  the  same  night 
Santa  Anna  marched  out  with  the  small  remnant  of  his  army,  and  the  City  of 
Mexico  lay  at  the  mercy  of  Major-General  Winfield  Scott. 

About  daylight  of  the  fourteenth,  the  city  council  waited  upon  the  General 


WINFIELD      SCOTT.  15 

to  demand  terms  of  capitulation  for  the  church,  the  citizens,  and  the  municipal 
authorities ;  to  this  the  General  replied,  that  the  city  was  already  in  his  posses 
sion,  and  that  the  army  should  be  subject  to  no  terms  not  self-imposed,  or  such  as 
were  not  demanded  by  its  own  honor,  and  the  dignity  of  the  United  States. 

Winfield  Scott,  with  his  small  and  heroic  army,  had  accomplished  the  object 
of  the  war  ;  peace  was  concluded  February  second,  1848,  and  very  shortly  after,  he 
received  from  Washington  the  order,  dated  previously  to  the  conclusion  of  peace, 
by  which  he  was  suspended  from  command,  and  a  court  of  inquiry  was  ordered 
upon  charges  preferred  against  him  by  brevet  Major-General  Worth.  This  court 
consisted  of  brevet  Brigadier-General  N.  Towson,  Paymaster-General,  Brigadier- 
General  Caleb  Gushing,  and  Colonel  E.  G.  W.  Butler ;  thus  a  paymaster-general,  a 
brigadier  of  volunteers,  and  a  colonel  of  dragoons,  were  ordered  to  examine  the 
conduct  of  the  veteran  commander  upon  the  charge  of  a  subordinate. 

General  Worth's  charges  were,  that  Scott  "  had  refused  to  say  whether  he 
was  the  person  referred  to  in  a  certain  army  order,  and  refused  to  forward  charges 
against  him  to  the  War  Department."  Secretary  Marcy  virtually  admitted  that 
the  conduct  of  the  Government  needed  defence  in  this  matter,  by  making  an  argu 
ment  in  its  support.  But  the  whole  country  was  astonished,  and  the  people  did 
not  sympathize  with  the  cold  indifference  of  formality.  Scott  relinquished  the 
command,  and  appeared  before  the  court,  which  sat,  first  in  Mexico,  and  subse 
quently  in  Washington ;  but  meantime  the  war  terminated,  the  transactions  of  the 
Court  were  allowed  to  fall  out  of  view,  no  decision  was  ever  given,  and  General 
Winfield  Scott  resumed  his  position  at  Washington  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
army. 

In  June,  1852,  Winfield  Scott  was  nominated  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
President  of -the  United  States,  by  the  Whig  National  Convention,  at  Baltimore. 
By  a  great  portion  of  the  people,  this  nomination  was  received  with  sincere  joy  ; 
but  it  was  reserved  for  the  hero  to  receive  his  first  great  defeat  at  the  hands  of 
his  countrymen. 

Government,  in  1859,  with  the  desire  to  confer  some  additional  mark  of 
honor,  bestowed  upon  the  gallant  veteran  the  brevet  rank  of  Lieutenant-General ; 
and  to  make  it  the  more  clearly  a  personal  distinction,  and  not  a  mere  addition  to 
army  grades,  the  brevet  was  purposely  so  framed  that  it  should  not  survive  him. 

When  the  Southern  rebellion  began  in  1860,  General  Scott  adhered  earnestly 
and  uncompromisingly  to  the  Constitution  and  Government  of  the  United  States, 
with  whose  history  his  life  was  identified,  and  for  whose  honor  he  had  ever  so 
consistently  labored.  With  what  pain  he  saw  those  dear  to  him  for  many  years 
fall  away  from  their  allegiance,  may  be  conceived  ;  but  he,  a  son  too  of  that  Virginia 
that  has  given  so  many  soldiers  to  the  country,  felt  that  he  was  not  so  much  a 
Southerner  as  a  citizen  of  the  United  States.  From  the  commencement  he  saw 


16  WINFIELD      SCOTT. 

that  the  true  course  was  to  meet  the  trouble  firmly,  and  his  suggestions,  made 
while  James  Buchanan  was  still  President,  were  such  as,  if  followed,  would  have 
crushed  rebellion  in  its  very  birth.  But  they  were  all  unheeded.  Twenty-eight 
years  before,  and  in  the  same  city  of  Charleston,  Winfield  Scott  had  been  present 
at  the  rehearsal  of  this  drama  of  secession  —  yet  all  the  experience  then  gained, 
was  not  only  not  permitted  to  be  of  service  to  the  country,  but  the  old  soldier  was 
even  compelled  to  abandon  to  its  fate,  a  brave  garrison  in  an  insufficiently  pro 
vided  fort.  Despite,  however,  the  inactivity  forced  upon  him  by  weakness  or 
crime,  General  Scott  secured  to  the  Government  the  possession  of  Washington 
City,  which  it  was  openly  asserted  could  not  be  saved,  and  also  secured  the  safe 
inauguration  of  President  Lincoln. 

General  Scott's  experience,  and  great  knowledge  of  the  American  people, 
were  of  infinite  value  in  the  organization  of  the  army  destined  to  act  against  the 
rebels.  To  an  early  movement  of  that  army  he  gave  a  reluctant  consent,  and  dis 
aster  followed  the  departure  from  his  advice.  Many  differed  with  him,  honestly 
no  doubt,  as  to  the  method  most  likely  to  crush  the  rebellion  ;  yet  every  American 
must  bitterly  regret  that  neither  his  honorable  and  great  services,  nor  his  age, 
could,  upon  that  point,  preserve  the  veteran  from  the  gross  vituperation  of  an 
intemperate  and  ribald  press. 

Finally,  feeling  himself  no  longer  equal  to  the  proper  discharge  of  the  import 
ant  duties  of  his  position ;  and  that  the  best  service  he  could  render  his  country 
would  be  to  make  room  for  a  younger  man,  Lieutenant-General  Scott  retired  from 
the  army,  November  first,  1861.  No  act  of  history  is  marked  by  more  of  simple 
dignity  and  truth,  than  this  withdrawal  of  the  man  who  felt  that  in  the  decay  of 
age  his  faculties  were  no  longer  equal  to  the  requirements  of  his  country.  Upon 
his  conclusion  to  retire,  General  Scott  wrote  thus  to  the  Secretary  of  War : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 

WASHINGTON,  October  31st,  1861. 

"  To  THE  HON.  SIMON  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War : 

"  SIR  :  For  more  than  three  years  I  have  been  unable  from  a  hurt  to  mount 
a  horse,  or  to  walk  more  than  a  few  paces  at  a  time,  and  that  with  much  pain. 
Other  and  new  infirmities,  dropsy  and  vertigo,  admonish  me  that  repose  of  mind 
and  body,  with  the  appliances  of  surgery  and  medicine,  are  necessary  to  add  a 
little  more  to  a  life  already  protracted  much  beyond  the  usual  span  of  man.  It 
is  under  such  circumstances,  made  doubly  painful  by  the  unnatural  and  unjust 
rebellion  now  raging  in  the  Southern  States,  of  our  so  lately  prosperous  and  happy 
Union,  that  I  am  compelled  to  request  that  my  name  shall  be  placed  on  the  list 
of  army  officers  retired  from  active  service.  As  this  request  is  founded  on  an 
absolute  right,  granted  by  a  recent  act  of  Congress,  I  am  entirely  at  liberty  to  say 


WINFIELD    SCOTT.  17 

it  is  with  deep  regret  that  I  withdraw  myself  in  these  momentous  times,  from  the 
orders  of  a  President  who  has  treated  me  with  much  distinguished  kindness  and 
courtesy,  whom  I  know,  upon  much  personal  intercourse,  to  be  patriotic  without 
sectional  partialities  or  prejudices  ;  to  be  highly  conscientious  in  the  performance 
of  every  duty,  and  of  unrivalled  activity  and  perseverance ;  and  to  you,  Mr. 
Secretary,  whom  I  now  officially  address  for  the  last  time,  I  beg  to  acknowledge 
my  many  obligations  for  the  uniform  high  consideration  I  have  received  at  your 
hands,  and  have  the  honor  to  remain,  sir,  with  high  respect, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  WINFIELD  SCOTT." 

In  response  the  Secretary  of  War  wrote  as  follows  : 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

WASHINGTON,  November  1st. 

"  GENERAL  :  It  was  my  duty  to  lay  before  the  President  your  letter  of  yes 
terday,  asking  to  be  relieved,  under  the  recent  act  of  Congress.  In  separating 
from  you,  I  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  my  deep  regret  that  your  health,  shat 
tered  by  long  service  and  repeated  wounds,  received  in  your  country's  defence, 
should  render  it  necessary  for  you  to  retire  from  your  high  position  at  this  mo 
mentous  period  of  our  history.  Although  you  are  not  to  remain  in  active  service, 
I  yet  hope  that  while  I  continue  in  charge  of  the  department  over  which  I  now 
preside,  I  shall  at  times  be  permitted  to  avail  myself  of  the  benefits  of  your  wise 
counsels  and  sage  experience.  It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  enjoy  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  you  for  over  thirty  years,  and  the  pleasant  relations  of  that 
long  time  have  been  greatly  strengthened  by  your  cordial  and  entire  cooperation 
in  all  the  great  questions  which  have  occupied  the  department  and  convulsed  the 
country  for  the  last  six  months.  In  parting  from  you,  I  can  only  express  the 
hope  that  a  merciful  Providence,  that  has  protected  you  amidst  so  many  trials, 
will  improve  your  health,  and  continue  your  life  long  after  the  people  of  the 
country  shall  have  been  restored  to  their  former  happiness  and  prosperity. 
"  I  am,  General,  very  sincerely,  your  friend  and  servant, 

SIMON  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War. 
"Lieut. -General  WINFIELD  SCOTT,  Present." 

General  Scott's  request,  it  was  decided  in  a  special  Cabinet  council,  held 
November  first,  could  not  be  declined  in  view  of  his  age  and  infirmities ;  and  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  the  President,  attended  by  all  the  members  of  the 
Cabinet,  waited  upon  General  Scott,  at  his  residence,  and  there  read  to  him  the 
following  order : 


18  WINFIELD      SCOTT. 

"  On  the  first  day  of  November,  A.D.  1861,  upon  his  own  application  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  brevet  Lieutenant-General  Winfield  Scott  is  or 
dered  to  be  placed,  and  hereby  is  placed  upon  the  list  of  retired  officers  of  the 
army  of  the  United  States,  without  reduction  in  his  current  pay,  subsistence,  or 
allowance. 

"  The  American  people  will  hear  with  sadness  and  deep  emotion  that  General 
Scott  has  withdrawn  from  the  active  control  of  the  army ;  while  the  President 
and  unanimous  Cabinet  express  their  own  and  the  nation's  sympathy  in  his  per 
sonal  affliction,  and  their  profound  sense  of  important  public  services  rendered  by 
him  to  his  country  during  his  long  and  brilliant  career,  among  which  will  be 
gratefully  distinguished  his  faithful  devotion  to  the  Constitution,  the  Union,  and 
the  flag,  when  assailed  by  parricidal  rebellion. 

"ABRAHAM  LINCOLN/' 

General  Scott  thereupon  rose,  and  thus  addressed  the  President  and  Cabinet, 
who  had  also  risen  : 

"  President,  this  honor  overwhelms  me.  It  overpays  all  services  I  have  at 
tempted  to  render  to  my  country.  If  I  had  any  claims  before,  they  are  all  oblit 
erated  by  the  expression  of  approval  by  the  President,  with  the  remaining  sup 
port  of  his  Cabinet.  I  know  the  President  and  this  Cabinet  well.  I  know  that 
the  country  has  placed  its  interests  in  this  trying  crisis  in  safe  keeping.  Their 
counsels  are  wise,  their  labors  are  as  untiring  as  they  are  loyal,  and  their  course  is 
the  right  one. 

"  President,  you  must  excuse  me.  I  am  not  able  to  stand  longer  to  give 
utterance  to  the  feelings  of  gratitude  which  oppress  me.  In  my  retirement  I  shall 
offer  up  my  prayers  to  God  for  this  Administration  and  for  my  country.  I  shall 
pray  for  it  with  confidence  in  its  success  over  all  enemies,  and  that  speedily." 

The  President  and  the  members  of  the  Cabinet  then  severally  took  leave  of 
the  General. 

Upon  the  same  day  Major-General  George  B.  McClellan  was  appointed  Gen 
eral  Scott's  successor  in  command  of  the  army,  and  issued  the  following  General 
Order : 

"HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 

WASHINGTON,  November  1st,  1861, 
GENERAL   ORDERS   No.    19. 

"  In  accordance  with  General  Order  No.  94,  from  the  War  Department,  I 
hereby  assume  command  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States. 

"  In  the  midst  of  the  difficulties  which  encompass  and  divide  the  nation,  hesi- 


WIN  FIELD    SCOTT.  19 

tation  and  self-distrust  may  well  accompany  the  assumption  of  so  vast  a  respon 
sibility;  but,  confiding  as  I  do  in  the  loyalty,  discipline,  and  courage  of  our 
troops,  and  believing  as  I  do  that  Providence  will  favor  ours  as  the  just  cause,  I 
cannot  doubt  that  success  will  crown  our  efforts  and  sacrifices.  The  army  will 
unite  with  me  in  the  feeling  of  regret  that  the  weight  of  many  years  and  the  effect 
of  increasing  infirmities,  contracted  and  intensified  in  his  country's  service,  should 
just  now  remove  from  our  head  the  great  soldier  of  our  nation,  the  hero,  who,  in 
his  youth,  raised  high  the  reputation  of  his  country  in  the  fields  of  Canada,  which 
he  sanctified  with  his  blood ;  who,  in  more  mature  years,  proved  to  the  world  that 
American  skill  and  valor  could  repeat,  if  not  eclipse,  the  exploits  of  Cortez  in  the 
land  of  the  Montezumas ;  whose  whole  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  whose  whole  efforts  have  been  directed  to  uphold  our  honor  at  the  small 
est  sacrifice  of  life ;  a  warrior  who  scorned  the  selfish  glories  of  the  battle-field  when 
his  great  qualities  as  a  statesman  could  be  employed  more  profitably  for  his  coun 
try  ;  a  citizen  who,  in  his  declining  years,  has  given  to  the  world  the  most  shining 
instance  of  loyalty,  in  disregarding  all  ties  of  birth,  and  clinging  still  to  the  cause 
of  truth  and  honor.  Such  has  been  the  career  and  character  of  Winfield  Scott, 
whom  it  has  long  been  the  delight  of  the  nation  to  honor,  both  as  a  man  and  as  a 
soldier.  While  we  regret  his  loss,  there  is  one  thing  we  cannot  regret — the  bright 
example  he  has  left  for  our  emulation.  Let  us  all  hope  and  pray  that  his  declin 
ing  years  may  be  passed  in  peace  and  happiness,  and  that  they  may  be  cheered  by 
the  success  of  the  country  and  the  cause  he  has  fought  for  and  loved  so  well. 
Beyond  all  that,  let  us  do  nothing  that  can  cause  him  to  blush  for  us.  Let  no 
defeat  of  the  army  he  has  so  long  commanded  embitter  his  last  years ;  but  let  our 
victories  illuminate  the  close  of  a  life  so  grand. 

"  GEOEGE  B.  MCCLELLAIST, 

"Major-General  Commanding  U.  S.  A." 

Eight  days  later  General  Scott  sailed  from  New- York  for  Europe,  there  to 
join  his  family  and  seek  repose  from  the  labor  and  excitement  that,  added  to  his 
years,  had  so  nearly  borne  him  down. 

President  Lincoln,  in  his  message  of  December  third,  1861,  to  Congress,  thus 
refers  to  the  retirement  of  General  Scott : 

"  Since  your  last  adjournment,  Lieutenant-General  Scott  has  retired  from  the 
head  of  the  army.  During  his  long  life  the  nation  has  not  been  unmindful  of  his 
merit.  Yet,  on  calling  to  mind  how  faithfully,  ably,  and  brilliantly  he  has  served 
the  country  from  a  time  far  back  in  our  history,  when  few  of  the  now  living  had 
been  born,  and  thenceforward  continually,  I  cannot  but  think  that  we  are  still 
his  debtor. 


20  WINFIELD     SCOTT. 

"  I  submit,  therefore,  for  your  consideration,  what  further  mark  of  recogni 
tion  is  due  to  him  and  ourselves  as  a  grateful  people." 

These  words,  a  noble  tribute  in  themselves,  have  hitherto  called  out  no 
response  from  Congress ;  and  it  remains  to  be  seen  what  action  will  be  taken  to 
express  the  full  sense  of  the  nation's  gratitude  toward  the  great  man  who  has,  for 
so  long  a  period,  so  faithfully  and  faultlessly  served  it. 


CKX   o  VI    MITCHELL. 


OEMSBT    MAOKNIG1IT   MITOHEL. 

A  MONGr  the  noble  and  gallant  graduates  of  West-Point  who,  at  the  call  of  their 
-L. A-  country,  abandoned  eminent  secular  positions  to  devote  their  lives  to  her  serv 
ice,  there  has  been  none  more  widely  or  deservedly  known  and  honored  than  Orms- 
by  Macknight  Mitchel.  An  accomplished  mathematician,  thoroughly  versed  in 
theoretical  and  practical  astronomy,  possessing  great  powers  of  oratory,  and  a 
remarkable  inventive  genius,  which  he  had  made  of  great  service  to  the  science 
of  which  he  was  passionately  fond,  and  having  an  energetic  temperament,  a 
vigorous,  sinewy  constitution,  and  extraordinary  executive  abilities,  he  was  one 
of  those  men  who  could  not  fail  to  make  their  mark.  To  his  other  valuable 
qualities  were  added  an  intense  patriotism,  a  devout  and  reverent  spirit,  and  the 
urbanity  and  polish  of  manners  of  the  Christian  gentleman. 

He  was  born  in  Union  County,  Kentucky,  August  twenty-eighth,  1810.  His 
parents  were  Virginians,  but  had  emigrated  to  Kentucky  some  years  before  his 
birth.  Though  residing  in  a  fertile  section  of  the  State,  his  parents  do  not  seem 
to  have  prospered  pecuniarily,  though  they  were  solicitous  for  the  education  of 
their  children.  Young  Mitchel  early  manifested  a  taste  for  study ;  at  twelve 
years  of  age  he  had  acquired  a  good  elementary  English  education,  had  made 
considerable  progress  in  mathematics,  and  had  mastered  the  rudiments  of  Latin 
and  Greek. 

At  this  time,  in  consequence,  we  believe,  of  the  death  of  one  or  both  parents, 
he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources.  His  early  school  education  had  been 
obtained  at  Lebanon,  Warren  County,  Ohio,  and  he  obtained  a  situation  as  clerk 
in  a  store  at  Miami,  Ohio,  with  wages  at  four  dollars  a  month  and  his  board. 
Not  long  afterward  he  was  offered  a  similar  but  more  lucrative  situation  at 
Lebanon,  and  diligently  improving  his  leisure  moments  in  study,  he  was  well 
fitted  to  enter  the  Military  Academy  at  West-Point,  where  he  received  an  appoint 
ment  as  a  cadet  in  June,  1825.  His  little  earnings  were  expended  in  his  outfit 
and  the  expense  of  meals  and  lodgings  on  his  journey  to  West-Point,  and  having 
performed  the  journey,  a  wearisome  one  at  that  day,  on  foot,  he  entered  the 
Academy  with  his  knapsack  on  his  back  and  twenty-five  cents  in  his  pocket. 
The  zeal  for  obtaining  an  education  which  led  to  such  sacrifices,  and  the  endur 
ance  of  such  hardships,  was  not  likely  to  flag  even  under  the  severe  discipline  of 
the  Military  Academy,  and  we  find  accordingly  that  he  early  took  and  maintained 


22  ORMSBY     MACKNIGHT     MITCHEL. 

throughout  his  course  a  very  high  rank  as  a  scholar.  The  class  was  one  which 
contained  several  brilliant  men,  among  them  the  present  rebel  Generals  Robert 
E.  Lee  and  Joseph  B.  Johnston,  but  neither  ranked  so  high  as  the  energetic 
young  Ohio  backwoodsman. 

He  graduated  in  1829,  and  was  at  once  made  Acting  Assistant  Professor  of 
Mathematics,  though  but  nineteen  years  of  age.  After  holding  this  post  for  two 
years,  he  was  detailed  to  garrison  duty ;  but,  in  1832,  tired  of  inactivity,  and  hav 
ing  studied  law  during  his  leisure  time,  he  resigned,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Ohio  bar  at  Cincinnati.  In  1834,  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathematics,  Philo 
sophy,  and  Astronomy  in  Cincinnati  College,  and  filled  the  chair  with  great  ability 
for  ten  years.  His  reputation  as  a  mathematician  and  an  eloquent  public  speaker 
far  transcended  the  limits  of  the  college  halls,  and  he  was  hardly  more  than  thirty 
years  of  age  when  the  citizens  of  Cincinnati  were  accustomed  to  boast  of  him  as 
"their  great  mathematician  and  the  smartest  man  out  West."  In  1836  and  1837, 
while  still  performing  his  duties  as  professor,  he  was  chosen  Chief  Engineer  on  the 
Little  Miami  Railroad,  and  the  skilful  manner  in  which  he  laid  out  that  railroad, 
the  first  which  connected  the  Ohio  and  the  lakes,  and  the  substantial  style  in 
which  he  caused  it  to  be  built,  added  materially  to  the  already  high  estimate  of 
his  abilities.  He  was  an  attendant,  during  a  portion  of  his  professorship,  on  the 
ministrations  of  the  Rev.  Lyman  Beecher,  D.D.,  in  many  respects  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  men  who  has  filled  an  American  pulpit,  and  a  man  whose  char 
acter  and  powers  Mitchel  could  fully  appreciate,  and  with  whom  he  was  in  most 
hearty  and  cordial  sympathy.  To  the  vigorous,  burning  utterances  of  the  "  old 
man  eloquent "  he  was  always  an  attentive  and  fascinated  listener,  and  there  grew 
up  a  lifelong  friendship  between  the  two. 

In  the  spring  of  1842  he  commenced  a  course  of  lectures  on  astronomy  to  a 
popular  audience,  the  first  attempt  of  the  kind  which  had  been  made  in  the 
West,  if  not  the  first  in  the  United  States.  The  course,  which  occupied  two  or 
three  evenings  each  week,  lasted  two  months,  and  a  hall  capable  of  seating  nearly 
two  thousand  people  was  crowded  every  evening  during  its  delivery.  It  was,  we 
believe,  at  the  close  of  these  lectures  that  he  first  broached  the  idea  of  an  Ob 
servatory  at  Cincinnati.  The  idea  was  certainly  a  bold  one,  for  there  was  not  a 
first-class  observatory  at  that  time  in  the  United  States.  Indeed,  there  were  but 
five  of  any  kind  then  in  existence  in  the  country,  and  a  sixth  in  process  of  erec 
tion.  Of  these,  the  Williams  College  and  Yale  College  Observatories  were  small 
and  but  poorly  furnished  with  instruments,  and  neither  had  been  in  existence  a 
dozen  years ;  there  was  also  a  small  observatory  at  Western  Reserve  College, 
Hudson,  Ohio,  and  a  better  one  at  Philadelphia,  both  erected  in  1838,  and  in 
1840  an  observatory  had  been  erected  for  the  first  time  at  West-Point.  The  Gov- 
ernnment  were  at  this  very  time  establishing  one  at  Washington. 


ORMSBY      MACK  NIGHT      MITCH  EL.  23 

Professor  Mitchel's  plan  was  to  divide  the  sum  necessary  for  the  building  and 
furnishing  the  Observatory  with  proper  instruments  into  shares  of  twenty-five 
dollars  each,  and  when  three  hundred  were  taken  up  the  stockholders  were  to 
elect  their  directors  or  trustees.  He  was  at  this  time  engaged  in  teaching  six 
hours  a  day,  but  he  entered  upon  his  work  of  procuring  subscriptions  to  the  stock 
with  such  activity  and  zeal  that  in  less  than  a  month  the  whole  amount  was  sub 
scribed,  and  Nicholas  Longworth,  the  Cincinnati  millionaire,  had  donated  a  site 
for  it.  One  of  the  first  resolutions  of  the  directors,  after  their  election,  was  to 
send  Professor  Mitchel  to  Europe  to  purchase  the  apparatus  for  the  Observatory. 
He  complied  with  the  wishes  of  the  directors,  but  he  would  not  trench  upon  his 
duties  to  the  college.  He  accordingly  left  Cincinnati  at  the  close  of  the  spring 
term,  and  was  absent  from  the  city  just  one  hundred  days,  during  which  time  he 
visited  Washington  to  obtain  his  papers  and  letters  of  introduction  to  eminent 
astronomers  abroad,  hastened  thence  to  New-York,  from  which  city  he  sailed  for 
Havre,  and  after  a  rapid  exploration  of  Paris,  which  satisfied  him  that  there  was 
no  refracting  telescope  there  such  as  he  wanted,  started  for  Munich,  refusing  to 
delay  on  the  route  to  see  the  Lake  of  Geneva  or  any  other  of  the  points  usually 
visited  by  travellers,  but  making  all  speed  to  his  destination.  At  Munich  he 
found  the  lens  of  the  great  refractor,  which  is  now  mounted  equatorially  in  the 
Cincinnati  Observatory,  in  the  manufactory  of  the  celebrated  opticians  Merz  and 
Mohler,  but  the  price  was  ten  thousand  dollars,  three  thousand  more  than  his 
directors  had  empowered  him  to  expend ;  taking  the  responsibility,  however,  he 
made  the  contract  for  it,  and  directed  the  time,  place,  and  circumstances  of  its 
shipment.  This  done,  he  hurried  on  to  London,  to  gain  access,  for  a  few  weeks, 
to  the  Greenwich  Observatory  as  a  student.  He  found  Professor  Airy,  the  As 
tronomer  Eoyal,  to  whom  he  had  strong  letters  of  introduction,  most  freezingly 
polite,  and  evidently  determined  to  grant  him  no  privileges  or  courtesies  beyond 
those  of  the  most  formal  character.  He  was  not  even  invited  into  the  Observa 
tory.  .  But  the  young  professor  was  not  to  be  so  easily  repulsed.  He  knew  that 
it  was  desirable  that  he  should  enjoy  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the  methods  of 
observation  adopted  in  the  Greenwich  Observatory,  and  he  determined  he  would 
do  it.  He  accordingly,  after  some  general  conversation,  in  which  the  English 
astronomer  had  been  curt  even  to  rudeness,  asked  Professor  Airy's  opinion  as  to 
the  best  mode  of  mounting  a  telescope.  "  Go  to  Cambridge,  and  you  will  see  my 
opinion  practically  embodied  in  that  observatory,"  was  the  ungracious  reply. 
After  a  little  further  conversation,  but  without  signifying  his  intention  of  com 
plying  with  the  advice  thus  tendered,  Professor  Mitchel  withdrew.  It  was  late  in 
the  afternoon,  and  the  train  for  Cambridge  would  start  in  a  few  minutes.  Calling 
a  hackman,  he  ordered  him  to  drive  him  to  the  station,  secured  his  ticket  and  was 
of£  It  was  a  remarkably  fine  night,  and  he  well  knew  that  before  he  could  reach 


24  ORMSBY      MACKNIGHT      MITCHEL. 

tlie  Observatory  the  directors  would  be  locked  in.  He  made  his  way  directly  to 
the  residence  of  the  Professor  of  Astronomy  and  asked  to  see  his  lady.  She 
proved  to  be  a  lady  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word,  and  in  ten  minutes  Professor 
Mitchel,  whose  powers  of  conversation  were  unequalled,  had  so  interested  her  in 
his  object  that  she  went  to  the  Observatory  and  called  her  husband  to  come  and 
see  him,  and  asked  him  to  take  him  into  the  Observatory,  which  he  readily  con 
sented  to  do.  The  whole  night  was  spent  in  the  Observatory,  the  Yankee  pro 
fessor  recording  and  copying  observations  in  quantities  that  astonished  the  Eng 
lish  astronomer.  At  daylight  he  was  back  to  the  station;  and  by  the  time 
Professor  Airy  had  swallowed  his  breakfast,  Mitchel  was  at  his  residence  in 
Greenwich,  ready  for  another  interview.  The  Astronomer  Eoyal,  supposing  that 
his  advice  about  going  to  Cambridge  had  not  been  taken,  was  colder  than  ever, 
and  when  Mitchel  told  him  he  had  been  there,  he  uttered  an  exclamation  which 
was  nearly  equivalent  to  accusing  him  of  falsehood.  Mitchel  replied  by  describ 
ing  the  Observatory,  the  telescope  and  professor  there,  even  to  the  minutest  par 
ticulars,  and  then  exhibiting  his  copious  records  of  the  night's  observations.  The 
Astronomer  Eoyal  was  by  this  time  thoroughly  thawed.  "  This  beats  any  thing 
I  ever  heard  of,"  he  exclaimed ;  then  added,  as  if  to  make  amends  for  his  previous 
coldness  :  "  You  must  dine  with  me  to-day."  At  the  dinner-table  he  was  seated 
by  Mrs.  Airy,  and  she  was  so  much  pleased  with  her  guest  that  before  the  dinner 
was  over  she  said  to  her  husband  :  "  I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of  you  —  that  you  will 
take  Professor  Mitchel  into  the  Observatory,  and  let  him  have  every  facility  to 
perfect  himself  while  he  remains."  "  It  is  granted  on  one  condition,"  replied  the 
astronomer  good  humoredly,  "  and  that  is,  that  while  he  is  in  the  Observatory  he 
shall  keep  that  tongue  of  his  still." 

The  privilege,  thus  granted,  was  used  up  to  the  last  available  moment,  and 
when  the  time  came  for  the  sailing  of  the  steamer,  the  compilation  and.  extension 
of  the  notes  he  had  made  sufficed  to  occupy  the  voyage.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  next  term  in  the  college  he  was  at  his  post,  as  ready  for  his  duties  as  if  he 
had  but  visited  one  of  the  lakes  or  the  fails  of  the  Upper  Mississippi.  On  the 
fourth  of  July,  1843,  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Observatory  was  laid,  the  vener 
able  John  Quincy  Adams  pronouncing  the  oration  on  the  occasion.  It  was  not, 
however,  till  the  autumn  of  1844  that  its  fine  telescope  was  mounted  and  observa 
tions  commenced.  A  considerable  debt  still  rested  upon  it,  and  an  endowment 
fund  was  needed  for  the  support  of  the  director.  To  extinguish  this  debt  and 
procure  the  means  of  endowment,  Professor  Mitchel,  who  had  resigned  his  pro 
fessorship  in  1844  to  enter  upon  his  duties  as  director  of  the  Observatory,  resolved 
to  deliver  courses  of  lectures  on  astronomy  in  the  large  cities,  of  the  country,  the 
avails  of  which  should  be  applied  to  these  purposes.  His  fame  as  a  lecturer  had 
preceded  him,  and  he  was  everywhere  welcomed  by  very  large  audiences,  all  of 


ORMSBY      MACK  NIGHT      MITCHEL.  25 

whom  were  delighted  with  the  clearness  and  felicity  of  his  explanations  of  astro 
nomical  phenomena,  and  the  wondrous  charm  he  threw  over  his  subject.  At  the 
delivery  of  these  lectures  in  New-York,  an  incident  occurred  within  the  writer's 
observation  which  indicated  in  the  strongest  possible  manner  the  charm  of  his 
eloquence.  He  was  delivering  his  course  in  the  old  Broadway  Tabernacle,  and 
that  vast  building  was  packed  with  an  intelligent  and  deeply  interested  audience ; 
it  was,  we  believe,  his  fourth  or  fifth  lecture,  and  the  reporter  of  the  Herald,  which 
had  given  verbatim  reports  of  the  entire  course,  was  busily  at  work.  The  subject 
of  the  lecture  was  the  vast  extent  of  the  universe  ;  he  had  stated,  with  a  vivid 
ness  of  description  which  has  never  been  surpassed,  Msedler's  theory  of  a  central 
sun  in  y  Hercules,  and  had  raised  his  audience  to  the  loftiest  pitch  of  awe  and 
reverence  by  the  suggestion  that  this  central  point  around  which  the  island  uni 
verses  revolved,  too  remote  for  mortal  eye,  even  assisted  by  the  most  powerful 
telescope,  to  discern,  might  be  the  special  dwelling-place  of  Jehovah,  who  had 
said,  "  Clouds  and  darkness  are  the  habitation  of  my  throne,"  and  closed  his  lec 
ture  by  repeating,  as  he  only  could  do  it,  the  grand,  sublime  dream  of  Jean  Paul 
Eichter,  as  rendered  by  De  Quincey,  commencing :  "  And  God  called  a  man  in 
dreams,  and  said,  Come,  I  will  show  thee  the  glories  of  my  House."  Up  to  this 
moment  the  busy  fingers  of  the  reporter  had  transferred  to  paper  the  glowing 
words  of  the  speaker,  and  for  the  first  sentence  or  two  he  strove  against  the  sense 
of  grandeur  and  sublimity  which  was  overpowering  ;  but  at  length,  dashing  down 
his  pencil,  he  listened,  entirely  forgetful  of  his  duty  in  the  delight  and  awe  with 
which  he  was  overwhelmed,  and  the  next  morning  frankly  confessed  that  his 
emotion  had  been  too  great  to  permit  him  to  report  the  concluding  portion  of  the 
lecture. 

The  lectures  were  entirely  successful,  and  in  connection  with  some  donations 
and  legacies,  produced  a  sufficient  endowment  fund  to  render  the  position  of  direc 
tor  a  comfortable  one.  The  next  few  years  were  devoted  with  great  assiduity  and 
success  to  the  prosecution  of  his  astronomical  discoveries.  His  mechanical  genius 
here  found  scope  in  the  invention  of  instruments  for  the  admeasurement  of  the 
parallax  of  remote  stars  ;  a  magnetic  clock  which  should,  when  connected  with  the 
telegraphic  wires,  give  the  mean  time  of  the  different  observatories  ;  an  apparatus 
for  recording  right  ascensions  and  declinations  by  electro -magnetic  aid  to  within 
one  one  thousandth  of  a  second  of  time,  and  for  the  measurement  with  great  accu 
racy  of  large  differences  of  declination,  such  as  the  ordinary  method  by  microme 
ter  could  not  at  all  reach.  He  discovered  the  planet  Keptune,  from  the  calcula 
tions  of  Leverrier,  before  it  had  been  discovered  by  any  other  astronomer  in  this 
country,  and  within  one  or  two  days  after  its  discovery  by  Adams  in  England. 
He  also  discovered  the  exact  period  of  the  rotation  of  Mars,  and  the  companion 
of  Antares  or  Cor  scorpii.  He  devoted  much  time,  at  the  request  of  the  German 


26  ORMSBY      MACKNIGHT      MITCHEL. 

astronomer  "W.  Struve,  to  the  re-measurement  of  the  double  stars  south  of  the 
equator,  discovered  and  catalogued  by  that  eminent  astronomer,  and  in  the  prog 
ress  of  this  re-measurement  made  several  interesting  discoveries.  In  July,  1846, 
he  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Sidereal  Messenger,  the  first  periodical 
attempted  in  the  United  States,  devoted  exclusively  to  astronomy.  It  was  con 
tinued  two  years,  but  finally  abandoned  for  want  of  patronage. 

But  he  was  too  active  and  energetic  to  be  satisfied  with  labors  which  would 
have  overtasked  a  man  of  ordinary  physical  powers.  During  this  period  he  was 
for  much  of  the  time  Engineer  in  Chief  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Eailroad,  pro 
cured  the  greater  part  of  the  subscriptions  to  its  stock,  and  went  to  Europe  and 
negotiated  its  bonds.  He  was  also  for  ten  years  in  command  of  a  volunteer  corps 
in  Cincinnati,  and  at  one  time  Adjutant-General  of  Ohio.  His  severer  labors 
were  diversified  by  an  occasional  lecturing  tour  and  the  preparation  of  a  volume 
of  his  lectures,  a  popular  algebra,  and  some  other  books  for  the  press.  In  1859 
he  was  offered  the  directorship  of  the  Dudley  Observatory,  at  Albany,  which  he 
accepted,  retaining  at  the  same  time  that  of  the  Observatory  at  Cincinnati.  In  the 
succeeding  winter  he  delivered,  in  New- York  and  Brooklyn,  a  new  course  of  lec 
tures,  on  the  'Astronomy  of  the  Bible,"  which  were  subsequently  published  in  a 
volume.  He  also  prepared  a  popular  text-book  on  astronomy,  for  the  use  of 
colleges  and  high  schools.  His  directorship  at  Albany  was  fruitful  in  astronomi 
cal  discoveries. 

Thus  useful  and  honored,  contributing  to  the  promotion  of  an  important 
science,  and  aiding  in  the  dissemination  of  knowledge,  he  might  easily  have 
claimed  that  his  services  were  not  needed  in  the  war  which  all  men  saw  to  be  now 
approaching.  But  he  had  no  disposition  to  reason  thus.  When  the  President 
issued  his  call  for  volunteers,  on  the  fifteenth  of  April,  1861,  no  one  of  the  na 
tion's  sons,  educated  in  her  military  school,  sprang  forward  with  a  heartier  alacrity 
to  draw  the  sword  in  her  defence. 

At  that  vast  concourse  of  citizens  which  met  at  Union  Park,  New- York,  on 
the  twentieth  of  April,  1861,  among  the  many  eloquent  appeals  to  the  people 
to  rise  in  defence  of  the  nation's  insulted  honor  none  were  more  impressive  or 
produced  a  more  powerful  effect  on  the  audience  than  that  which  burst  from  the 
lips  of  0.  M.  Mitchel.  The  substance  of  that  address,  as  taken  down  by  the  re 
porters  at  the  time,  has  been  preserved.  It  was  as  follows :  "I  am  infinitely 
indebted  to  you  for  this  evidence  of  your  kindness.  I  know  I  am  a  stranger 
among  you.  I  have  been  in  your  State  but  a  little  while  ;  but  I  am  with  you 
heart  and  soul,  and  mind  and  strength,  and  all  that  I  have  and  am  belongs  to 
you  and  to  our  common  country,  and  to  nothing  else.  I  have  been  announced  to 
you  as  a  citizen  of  Kentucky.  Once  I  was,  because  I  was  born  there.  I  love  my 
native  State  as  you  love  your  native  State.  I  love  my  adopted  State  of  Ohio  as 


ORMSBY      MACKNIGHT      MITCHEL.  27 

you  love  your  adopted  State,  if  such  you  have  ;  but,  my  friends,  I  am  not  now  a 
citizen  of  any  State.  I  owe  allegiance  to  no  State,  and  never  did,  and,  God  help 
ing  me,  I  never  will.  I  owe  allegiance  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States. 
A  poor  boy,  working  with  my  own  hands,  at  the  age  of  twelve  turned  out  to  take 
care  of  myself  as  best  I  could,  and  beginning  by  earning  but  four  dollars  per 
month,  I  worked  my  way  onward  until  this  glorious  Government  gave  me  a 
chance  at  the  Military  Academy  at  West-Point.  There  I  landed  with  a  knapsack 
on  my  back,  and,  I  tell  you  God's  truth,  just  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  in  my  pocket. 
There  I  swore  allegiance  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States.  I  did  not  ab 
jure  the  love  of  my  own  State,  nor  of  my  adopted  State,  but  all  over  that  rose 
proudly,  triumphantly,  and  predominant  my  love  for  our  common  country.  And 
now,  to-day,  that  common  country  is  assailed,  and,  alas  !  alas !  that  I  am  com 
pelled  to  say  it,  assailed  in  some  sense  by  my  own  countrymen.  My  father  and 
my  mother  were  from  Old  Virginia,  and  my  brothers  and  sisters  from  Old  Ken 
tucky.  I  love  them  all ;  I  love  them  dearly.  I  have  my  brothers  and  friends  in 
the  South  now,  united  to  me  by  the  fondest  ties  of  love  and  affection.  I  would 
take  them  in  my  arms  to-day,  with  all  the  love  that  God  has  put  into  this  heart ; 
but  if  I  found  them  in  arms,  I  would  be  compelled  to  smite  them  down.  You 
have  found  officers  of  the  army  who  have  been  educated  by  the  Government,  who 
have  drawn  their  support  from  the  Government  for  long  years,  who,  when  called 
upon  by  their  country  to  stand  for  the  Constitution  and  the  right,  have  basely, 
ignominiously,  and  traitorously  either  resigned  their  commissions  or  deserted  to 
traitors,  rebels,  and  enemies.  What  means  all  this  ?  How  can  it  be  possible  that 
men  should  act  in  this  way  ?  There  is  no  question  but  one.  If  we  ever  had  a 
government  and  constitution,  or  if  we  ever  lived  under  such,  have  we  ever  recog 
nized  the  supremacy  of  right  ?  I  say,  in  God's  name,  why  not  recognize  it  now  ? 
Why  not  to-day  ?  why  not  forever  ?  Suppose  these  friends  of  ours  from  Old  Ire 
land,  suppose  he  who  has  made  himself  one  of  us,  when  a  war  should  break  out 
against  his  own  country,  should  say,  '  I  cannot  fight  against  my  own  country 
men,'  is  he  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  ?  They  are  no  countrymen  longer  when 
war  breaks  out.  The  rebels  and  the  traitors  in  the  South  we  must  set  aside ; 
they  are  not  our  friends.  When  they  come  to  their  senses  we  will  receive  them 
with  open  arms  ;  but  till  that  time,  while  they  are  trailing  our  glorious  banner  in 
the  dust,  when  they  scorn  it,  condemn  it,  curse  it,  and  trample  it  under  foot,  then 
I  must  smite.  In  God's  name  I  will  smite,  and  as  long  as  I  have  strength  I  will 
do  it.  Oh  !  listen  to  me,  listen  to  me  ;  I  know  these  men,  I  know  their  courage, 
I  have  been  among  them,  I  have  been  with  them,  I  have  been  reared  with  them. 
They  have  courage,  and  do  not  you  pretend  to  think  they  have  not.  I  tell  you 
what  it  is,  it  is  no  child's  play  you  are  entering  upon.  They  will  fight,  and  with 
a  determination  and  a  power  which  is  well-nigh  irresistible.  Make  up  your  mind 


28  ORMSBY      MACKNIGHT      MITCHEL. 

to  it.  Let  eveiy  man  put  his  life  in  his  hand  and  say  :  '  There  is  the  altar  of  my 
country  ;  there  I  will  sacrifice  my  life.  I,  for  one,  will  lay  my  life  down.  It  is 
not  mine  any  longer.  Lead  me  to  the  conflict.  Place  me  where  I  can  do  my 
duty.  There  I  am  ready  to  go.  I  care  not  where  it  leads  me.'  My  friends,  that 
was  the  spirit  that  was  in  this  city  on  yesterday.  I  am  told  of  an  incident  that 
occurred,  which  drew  the  tears  to  my  eyes,  and  I  am  not  much  used  to  the  melt 
ing  mood  at  all.  And  yet  I  am  told  of  a  man  in  your  city  who  had  a  beloved 
wife  and  two  children  depending  upon  his  personal  labor,  day  by  day,  for  their 
support.  lie  went  home,  and  said  :  '  Wife,  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  enlist  and  fight 
for  my  country.'  '  That  is  just  what  I  have  been  thinking  of,  too,'  said  she ; 
'  God  bless  you ;  may  you  come  back  without  harm,  but  if  you  die  in  defence  of 
the  country,  the  God  of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless  will  take  care  of  me  and  my 
children.'  That  same  wife  came  to  your  city  ;  she  knew  precisely  where  her  hus 
band  was  to  pass  as  he  marched  away.  She  took  her  position  on  the  pavement, 
and  finding  a  flag,  she  begged  leave  just  to  stand  beneath  those  sacred  folds  and 
take  a  last  fond  look  on  him  she,  by  possibility,  might  never  see  again.  The  hus 
band  marched  down  the  street,  their  eyes  met ;  a  s}Tmpathetic  flash  went  from 
heart  to  heart.  She  gave  one  shout,  and  fell  senseless  upon  the  pavement ;  and 
there  she  lay  for  not  less  than  thirty  minutes  in  a  swoon.  It  seemed  to  be  the 
departing  of  her  life ;  but  all  the  sensibility  was  sealed  up,  it  was  all  sacrifice. 
She  was  ready  to  meet  this  tremendous  sacrifice  upon  which  we  have  entered,  and 
I  trust  you  are  all  ready.  I  am  ready.  God  help  me  to  do  my  duty.  I  am 
ready  to  fight  in  the  ranks  or  out  of  the  ranks.  Having  been  educated  in  the 
Academy  ;  having  been  in  the  army  for  seven  years  ;  having  served  as  commander 
of  a  volunteer  company  for  ten  years  ;  and  having  served  as  an  Adjutant-General, 
I  feel  I  am  ready  for  something.  I  only  ask  to  be  permitted  to  act,  and  in  God's 
name  give  me  something  to  do." 

Professor  Mitchel's  actions  were  as  patriotic  as  his  words.  He  tendered,  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment,  his  services  to  the  Government  in  any  capacity  in 
which  they  saw  fit  to  employ  him.  At  first,  however,  there  was  no  position  which 
the  Government  regarded  as  such  as  was  suited  to  him,  whose  worth  and  abilities 
they  well  knew,  which  was  not  already  filled  by  some  one  who,  if  less  capable, 
could  not  well  be  displaced.  There  were  also  other  obstacles  to  his  immediately 
entering  upon  the  service.  The  affairs  of  the  two  observatories  must  be  so  ar 
ranged  that  they  could  without  detriment  be  left  to  others  ;  his  business  affairs, 
in  which  his  sons  had  become  interested,  must  also  be  placed  on  a  different  foot 
ing  ;  and  last,  though  by  no  means  least,  the  companion  of  his  life,  who  for  many 
years  had  been  an  invalid,  but  had  for  some  months  manifestly  improved  in 
health,  was  again  smitten  down,  and  this  time  with  mortal  sickness,  in  August, 
1861,  just  as  all  other  obstacles  were  removed  and  he  had  accepted  the  command, 


ORMSBY      MACK  NIGHT      MITCHEL.  29 

as  Brigadier-General,  tendered  him  by  the  Government.  Her  illness  was  brief, 
and  laying  her,  who  had  been  the  partner  of  his  joys  and  sorrows  for  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  to  rest  in  the  quiet  shades  of  Greenwood,  the  hero  and 
philosopher  buried  his  sorrows  in  his  heart  and  went  forth  to  fight  the  battles  of 
his  country.  He  was  first  connected  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  but  saw  no 
active  service  there.  He  was  next  assigned  to  a  command  in  Cincinnati  and  the 
country  adjacent  on  both  sides  of  the  Ohio  Eiver,  and  soon  after  was  ordered  to 
join  the  department  of  the  Ohio,  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Buell, 
and  was  the  first  officer  to  enter  Bowling  Green,  at  the  head  of  his  brigade.  From 
that  city  his  command,  which  at  this  time  was  a  division,  marched  in  the  van  to 
ward  Nashville.  On  the  capture  of  that  city,  he  made  a  forced  march  toward 
Corinth,  taking  with  him  but  a  single  brigade  of  his  division.  He  then  made  a 
feint  of  attacking  Chattanooga,  and  having  caused  the  enemy  to  concentrate  their 
force  there,  he  turned  suddenly  toward  Fayetteville,  and  making  a  forced  march, 
seized  the  railroad  midway  between  Corinth  and  Chattanooga,  and  thus  broke  the 
rebel  line  of  communication  and  held  the  towns  along  that  railroad  for  a  distance 
of  nearly  two  hundred  miles  completely  under  control.  Every  movement  looking 
to  revolt  against  his. authority,  or  the  insulting  of  his  soldiers,  was  promptly  and 
sternly  repressed.  Athens,  Alabama,  one  of  the  larger  towns  on  the  route,  had 
been  remarkable  for  the  bitter  hostility  of  its  citizens  to  the  Union  army,  and  the 
command  of  the  rebellious  town  was  assigned  by  General  Mitchel  to  Colonel,  now 
General,  Turchin,  an  officer  of  Russian  birth  of  decided  energy  and  ability,  whose 
vigorous  measures  soon  brought  the  insolent  rebels  to  terms.  Complaint  was 
made  by  some  of  the  rebels  to  General  Buell  of  Turchin's  severity,  and  the  Gene 
ral,  who  inclined  to  the  rose-water  policy,  ordered  a  court-martial  to  try  Turchin. 
General  Mitchel  sustained  his  faithful  and  vigorous  subordinate,  and  thereby  in 
curred  Buell's  displeasure,  in  consequence  of  which  he  asked  to  be  relieved  of  his 
command.  But  the  Government  could  not  dispense  with  the  services  of  so  ener 
getic  and  faithful  a  General  as  Mitchel,  and  after  remaining  a  short  time  without 
a  command  he  was  appointed  to  succeed  General  Hunter  as  commander  of  the 
department  of  the  South,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  on  the  sixteenth 
of  September,  1862.  The  energy  which  had  characterized  him  at  the  West  was 
not  relaxed  in  his  new  field  of  action.  The  discipline  of  his  army  was  greatly  im 
proved  ;  old  abuses  were  checked,  order  took  the  place  of  disorder  and  confusion, 
and  the  care  and  management  of  the  freedmen,  or  "  contrabands  "  as  they  were 
popularly  called,  which  had  been  a  difficult  problem  in  that  department  from  the 
first,  was  rendered  simple  and  easy  by  his  executive  skill.  Satisfied  that  the 
Government  would  soon  see  the  desirableness  of  employing  the  able-bodied  among 
them  as  soldiers,  he  did  not  deem  it  wise  to  forestall  its  action,  but  directed  his 
energies  to  the  elevation  and  improvement  of  their  social  and  intellectual  condi- 


30  ORMSBY      MAC  KNIGHT      MITCH  EL. 

tion.  He  encouraged  them  to  adopt  the  habits  and  customs  of  the  more  intelli 
gent  of  the  colored  people  of  the  North,  and  to  evince  their  right  to  freedom  by 
making  their  conduct  worthy  of  freemen.  He  caused  a  model  house  for  a  negro 
family  to  be  built,  and  then  offered  to  furnish  lumber  and  to  pay  a  premium  to 
those  who  would  build  houses  equal  to  this,  and  in  a  short  time  he  had  a  village 
of  good,  substantial  houses  going  up  for  the  freedmen,  as  different  as  possible  from 
the  filthy  cabins  in  which  they  had  previously  vegetated,  and  each  with  its  garden- 
plot  fenced  in.  He  encouraged  schools  among  them,  and  in  every  way  stimulated 
their  ambition  and  energies  till  an  observer  would  have  deemed  it  impossible  that 
the  enterprising  and  manly  negroes  of  Hilton  Head  could  have  been  the  stolid, 
unimpressible  slaves  of  a  year  before. 

His  activity  was  equally  manifest  in  military  affairs.  He  believed  in  con 
stantly  harassing  the  enemy,  and  as  his  force  was  insufficient  for  any  of  those 
great  military  undertakings  in  which  he  would  have  most  delighted,  he  resolved 
to  make  the  best  of  it  in  smaller  enterprises.  An  expedition  was  sent  to  St. 
John's  Eiver,  Florida,  which  was  successful  in  breaking  up  several  small  garrisons 
of  the  rebels,  in  destroying  vessels  and  cargoes  which  were  prepared  for  running 
the  blockade,  and  in  taking  possession  of  some  towns  of  importance  ;  another  at 
tacked  and  destroyed  the  extensive  salt-works  of  the  enemy  at  Bluffton,  thus  de 
priving  them  of  a  large  portion  of  their  supply  of  that  important  article.  A  third, 
on  a  larger  scale,  was  sent  on  the  twenty -first  of  October,  under  the  command  of 
Brigadier-General  Brannan,  to  Pocotaligo  and  Coosahatchie  Eivers,  to  burn  the 
bridges  and  break  the  railroad  communication  between  Charleston  and  Savannah  ; 
but  this,  which  General  Mitchel  had  intended  at  first  to  command  in  person,  was 
but  partially  successful,  owing  to  the  plan  of  it  having  been  by  some  traitor  com 
municated  to  the  rebels,  who  had,  in  consequence,  rallied  a  strong  force  and  forti 
fied  positions  where  they  could  repel  the  attacks  of  the  approaching  force ;  and 
though  some  bridges  were  destroyed,  yet  the  heavy  loss  incurred  by  the  attacking 
force  made  the  expedition  practically  a  failure. 

But  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  and  with  plans  for  securing  the  triumph 
of  the  Union  arms  in  his  department  as  yet  unaccomplished,  this  brave  and  ener 
getic  commander  was  suddenly  called  to  surrender  to  a  relentless  and  powerful 
foe.  Death  came,  and  with  ruthless  hand  bowed  the  strong  man  whom  no  hard 
ships  could  cause  to  falter,  and  after  a  brief  illness,  laid  him  in  the  grave.  The 
yellow  fever  made  its  appearance  at  Hilton  Head  on  the  twentieth  of  October  ;  on 
the  twenty-sixth,  General  Mitchel  was  taken  with  the  disease  in  its  worst  form, 
and  died  on  the  thirtieth.  His  death  was  perfectly  in  keeping  with  his  life. 
Though  suffering  severely,  he  was  calm  and  collected  and  in  full  possession  of  his 
faculties  to  the  last.  The  Christian's  hope,  which  had  sustained  him  amid  all  his 
trials  and  bereavements  in  the  past,  was  his  stay  and  support  in  the  trying  hour. 


ORMSBY      MACKNIGHT      MITCHEL.  31 

"It  is  a  blessed  thing,"  he  said  to  Mrs.  Gage,  "  to  have  a  Christian's  hope  in  a 
time  like  this."  The  great  responsibilities  of  his  position  were  laid  aside  with  the 
utmost  composure,  as  he  felt  that  the  time  had  come  for  him  to  die,  and  uttering 
the  words,  "  I  am  ready  to  go,"  and  pointing  upward  when  speech  failed,  he  passed 
away  "  as  sinks  the  summer  sun  to  rest."  In  the  quiet  shades  of  Greenwood,  by 
the  side  of  her  he  loved  so  well  in  life,  the  astronomer,  patriot,  and  hero  sleeps 
quietly  till  the  trump  of  the  archangel  shall  waken  his  dust  to  the  never-ending 
life  of  eternity. 


THEODOEUS   BAILEY. 

THE  achievements  of  our  navy  were  the  pride  of  tlie  nation  in  the  war  of  1812. 
On  the  outbreak  of  the  present  rebellion  the  people  looked  hopefully,  from 
the  Potomac  blockaded  and  the  squadron  inactive  in  Ilampton  Roads  watching  the 
erection  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  to  a  period  when  it  would  vindicate  its  old  renown. 
At  length  the  hoped  for  period  arrived.  Foote  led  off  on  the  Mississippi ;  String- 
ham  at  Ilatteras ;  Goldsborough  in  Albemarle  Sound ;  Du  Pont  at  Charleston ; 
and  Farragut  at  New-Orleans,  and  then  the  navy  had  solved  the  problem  as  to  the 
relative  value  of  guns  ashore  and  guns  afloat,  and  proved  that  if  the  revolutionary 
batteries  of  General  Moultrie  on  Sullivan's  Island  did  drive  off  a  British  fleet,  it 
would  not  hold  that  therefore  the  Southern  coast  could  be  protected  from  the 
American  navy. 

Amongst  the  long  list  of  gallant  officers  who  have  added  new  lustre  to 
this  service  Admiral  Theodoras  Bailey  has  manfully  done  his  share,  and  de 
serves  something  more  than  a  passing  notice.  He  was  born  at  Chateaugay,  in 
Franklin  County,  on  the  northern  border  of  the  State  of  New- York,  in  the  year 
1805.  His  father,  Judge  William  Bailey,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  great 
northern  wilderness,  having  married  the  daughter  of  one  of  the  patentees  of 
Plattsburgh,  to  which  place  he  soon  afterward  removed.  As  a  boy,  standing  on 
the  shore  of  the  lake,  Admiral  Bailey  witnessed  McDonough's  victory,  and  saw 
the  pride  with  which  the  victors  were  greeted,  and  determined  that  he  too  would 
be  a  sailor.  His  uncle,  General  Theodorus  Bailey,  (a  Senator  from  New- York,)  was 
fortunately  able  to  aid  his  aspirations,  and  on  the  first  of  January,  1818,  at  the 
early  age  of  less  than  fourteen  years,  he  obtained  his  first  commission.  It  would 
be  covering  too  much  space  to  follow  him  through  the  twenty-six  years  of  active 
duty  and  the  various  gradations  of  rank.  He  twice  made  cruises  around  the 
world,  and  served  under  the  old  flag  in  every  climate  and  sea,  and  always  with 
credit,  never  having  become  involved  in  any  difficulty  with  the  department,  his 
superiors,  or  messmates,  but  earning  the  reputation  of  an  efficient,  enterprising, 
and  faithful  officer.  At  length,  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war,  he  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Lexington,  an  old  razee,  rated  as  a  store-ship,  and 
carried  out  from  the  port  of  New-York  to  California  Captain  Tompkins's  (regular) 
battery,  and  a  number  of  officers  of  the  army,  amongst  whom  were  Lieutenants  (now 
Generals)  Halleck,  Sherman,  and  Lozier,  and  a  large  amount  of  'munitions  of  war. 


COM.     THEODORUS    BAILEY 


THEODORUS     BAILEY.  33 

Arriving  on  the  coast,  after  reporting  to  the  commander-in-chief  and  discharging 
his  cargo,  the  Lexington  was  assigned  to  duty  as  a  cruiser,  and  cooperated  with 
Colonel  Benton  in  the  conquest  and  holding  of  Lower  California,  capturing  San 
Bias  and  other  places.  In  this  duty  Lieutenant  Commanding  Bailey's  zeal  and 
efficiency  were  complimented  by  his  superiors,  and  gave  great  satisfaction.  He 
was  soon  after  promoted  to  the  grade  of  commander.  His  next  command  was  the 
sloop-of-war  St.  Mary's,  in  which  he  again  visited  the  Pacific  and  cruised  for  three 
years.  One  of  the  incidents  of  this  voyage  was  the  arrival  of  the  St.  Mary's  at 
Panama  immediately  after  the  massacre.  Captain  Bailey  took  prompt  and  effi 
cient  measures  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  American  citizens  in  the  future 
and  seek  indemnity  for  the  past,  and  closed  his  correspondence  with  the  Governor 
in  these  words  :  "I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  replies  to 
my  communications  of  the  twenty-second  and  twenty-fourth,  (April,  1856.)  Apart 
from  the  announcement  of  the  restoration  to  the  owners  of  the  cannon  and  arms 
illegally  taken  from  the  steamer  Taboga,  I  must  confess  they  afford  me  little  satis 
faction.  I  had  expected,  when  asking  for  information  as  to  the  causes  of  the 
frightful  occurrences  of  the  fifteenth,  that,  apart  from  the  immediate  origin  of  the 
tumult,  you  would  have  deemed  it  due  to  yourself,  as  the  chief  magistrate  of  this 
community,  to  state  why  and  wherefore  you  undertook  the  fearful  responsibility 
of  ordering  your  police  to  fire  upon  my  countrymen,  women  and  children,  and  to 
state  what  steps  you  had  taken  to  punish  the  guilty  and  restore  the  plunder.  Ten 
days  have  elapsed  since  the  catastrophe,  and  I  have  yet  to  learn  that  a  single 
criminal  has  been  arrested,  or  that  any  portion  of  the  immense  amount  of  valua 
bles  taken  from  the  passengers  and  railroad  company  has  been  restored.  I  have 
yet  to  learn  that  your  high  '  consciencia  de  mis  deberes  i  la  inteligencia  de  los 
grandes  intereses  que  se  ligon  a  la  conservacion  de  esta  line  de  transito  universal ' 
extended  any  further  than  to  order  an  indiscriminate  massacre  of  the  passengers 
over  this  transit  I  have  yet  to  discover  that  when  a  riot  or  collision  shall  take 
place  here  between  foreigners  on  the  one  side  and  natives  on  the  other,  that  you 
recognize  any  higher  obligation  on  your  part  than  to  protect  and  assist  the  latter, 
and  to  disarm,  murder,  maltreat,  and  plunder  the  former.  Is  it  possible  that  your 
Excellency  recognizes  but  one  party  to  a  riot,  that  yon  shelter  yourself  under  the 
philosophic  assurance  that  the  fearful  catastrophe  of  the  fifteenth  instant  was  the 
result  of  '  elementos  tarn  hetorogenos  como  los  que  forman  nuestra  poblacion  y  la 
emigracion  Californiana.'  This  conclusion,  I  regret  to  state,  affords  me  little 
assurance  of  the  safety  of  the  transit  for  the  future,  unless  your  Excellency  shall 
devise  some  most  speedy  and  efficacious  method  for  rendering  these  unfortunate 
elements  less  '  heterogeneous '  hereafter.  The  police  who  took  part  in  this  horri 
ble  tragedy  now  guard  the  lives  and  property  of  the  transit  passengers.  The 
'  Jendarmeria '  who,  with  the  same  philosophy  as  your  Excellency,  deemed  it  best 


34  THEODORUS     BAILEY. 

in  the  late  emergency  to  destroy  the  foreign  '  element,'  are  the  reliable  means  of 
protection  which  your  Excellency  will  furnish  us  to  any  extent  for  the  future  ; 
and  it  no  doubt  should  be  a  source  of  gratification  that  they  have,  since  the  fif 
teenth  instant,  (the  St.  Mary's  being  present,)  permitted  the  passengers  and  trea 
sure  of  the  steamers  Uncle  Sam  and  Golden  Age  to  make  the  transit  without  mur 
dering  the  one  or  plundering  the  other.  I  am,  with  the  force  under  my  command, 
but  from  eight  to  ten  days  removed  from  my  Government,  and  am  therefore 
bound  to  submit  to  their  judgment  the  manner  in  which  the  fearful  accountability 
which  you  have  incurred  shall  be  investigated,  and  to  their  decision  the  indemnity 
which  shall  be  demanded  for  the  past  and  security  for  the  future  ;  meanwhile  I 
shall  do  all  in  my  power  to  avert  any  danger  that  may  occur  to  the  transit  passen 
gers,  from  whatever  quarter  it  may  come  and  under  every  emergency,  without 
relying  on  your  Excellency's  Jendarmeria.  In  directing  my  first  communication 
to  your  Excellency,  I  had  no  desire  to  listen  to  apologies  for  certain  parties  or  cer 
tain  acts,  but  an  earnest  wish  to  know  what  you  did  toward  punishing  the  parties 
concerned  in  this  frightful  atrocity.  I  wanted  action  not  sophistry — the  names 
of  criminals  arrested — the  officials  dismissed — and  some  allusion  to  plunder  re 
stored,  not  unmeaning  phrases  or  flattery.  That  I  have  not  been  thus  gratified  I 
have  no  doubt  arises  from  the  fact  that  you  deem  the  origin  of  the  affair  a  suffi 
cient  justification  for  its  frightful  conclusion.  I  shall  here  take  my  leave  of  your 
Excellency  as  a  correspondent,  and  shall  have  the  honor  to  submit  your  two  com 
munications  to  my  Government,  presuming  they  will  not  be  more  satisfactory  to 
them  than  to  me." 

The  foregoing  letter  is  inserted  to  show  that  Captain  Bailey  has  a  talent  for 
correspondence,  although  a  little  Jacksonian  in  style,  and  that  Senor  Don  Franco 
de  Falnega,  Acting  Governor  of  Panama,  had  cause  to  be  thankful  that  the  writer 
was  only  eight  days  distant  from  his  Government,  for  the  safety  of  his  tawny  dy 
nasty  under  the  frowning  batteries  of  the  St.  Mary's  and  with  her  marines  near  to 
his  strong  places.  The  character  of  a  man  is  often  better  judged  by  his  own 
letters  than  the  pen  of  his  biographer.  This  caustic  effusion  shows  the  mood  of 
the  tough  old  sailor  smarting  under  a  sense  of  insult  to  his  flag,  and  burning  to 
redress  it,  but  with  his  hands  tied  from  redress  by  a  want  of  authority,  of  techni 
cal  not  of  physical  power.  He  evidently  applied  to  this  particular  Governor  the 
result  of  his  experience  of  Spanish  officials,  based  upon  his  old  Mexican  observa 
tions,  and  is  more  frank  than  complimentary. 

On  the  news  of  the  bombardment  of  Sumter,  Captain  Bailey,  then  at  Platts- 
burgh,  N.  Y.,  hastened  to  Washington  and  asked  an  opportunity  for  service. 
He  was  at  once  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  steam  frigate  Colorado,  repaired 
to  Pensacola,  then  held  by  the  insurgents,  and  became  a  terror  to  the  rebels  by  his 
restless  activity.  Finding  General  Harvey  Brown  in  command  at  Fort  Pickens, 


THEODORUS     BAILEY.  35 

he  cooperated  -with  him  in  the  operations  there  planned,  and  matured  the  details 
of  an  expedition  to  the  mainland  and  the  capture  of  Barrancas,  which  for  no  want 
of  his  was  not  carried  out.  Seeing  a  privateer  (the  Judith)  lying  at  the  dock  at 
Pensacola,  he  planned  a  cutting-out  expedition.  The  first  reconnoissance  he  made 
in  person,  is  thus  graphically  described  in  a  letter  from  an  officer : 

"  On  the  night  of  the  third  of  August  we  were  sent  by  the  flag-officer  into 
Pensacola  harbor  to  reconnoitre,  and  if  possible  capture  some  of  the  schooners 
or  steamers  of  the  rebels.  We  started  from  the  ship  as  soon  after  dark  as  our 
movements  would  be  obscured  and  concealed  from  the  numerous  glasses  and 
telescopes  constantly  pointed  at  us  from  the  forts  and  works  of  secessiondom, 
passed  into  the  harbor  with  five  boats,  Captain  Bailey,  of  the  Colorado,  who  com 
manded,  leading  in  his  light  gig,  without  being  observed  by  the  rebel  forts  or  bat 
teries.  The  night  was  dark,  and  after  rowing  about  the  harbor  and  finding  that 
there  were  110  vessels  anchored  off  that  we  could  prey  upon,  we  pulled  in  for  the 
'  navy-yard,'  which,  tperhaps  you  have  heard,  is  defended  by  a  strong  battery. 
Treating  the  rebel  sentries'  hails  of  '  boat  ahoy,  who  comes  there  ?'  with  silent  con 
tempt,  we  pulled  steadily  in  with  the  boats.  Leaving  them  off  the  pier  end,  the 
captain  went  in  the  slip  with  his  gig  to  see  what  could  be  done  ;  found  a  schooner 
tied  up  to  the  wharf  by  the  guard-house  and  a  guard  of  soldiers  mustering  on  the 
wharf  by  her.  The  long-roll  was  being  beaten,  and  a  general  mustering  of  rebel 
forces,  together  with  sending  up  of  rockets  and  a  fire-balloon  as  a  signal  of  attack, 
we  thought  it  prudent  to  retire,  which  we  did,  with  the  boats,  without  a  shot  be 
ing  fired  on  either  side.  "We  knew  or  were  informed  previously  at  '  Pickens ' 
that  the  wharf  where  we  found  the  schooner  was  defended  by  two  thirty-two- 
pounders  and  two  howitzers,  but  were  in  hopes  to  have  found  the  schooner  tied 
up  somewhere  else  than  at  the  wharf  immediately  alongside  of  the  guard-house, 
where  we  could  not  burn  her  without  lighting  up  the  whole  harbor  and  sacrificing 
our  boats  to  their  point-blank  fire.  As  it  was,  we  gave  the  rebels  a  terrible  fright, 
and  as  we  retired  we  could  hear  the  long-roll  beat  and  see  the  batteries  all  lit  up 
from  the  navy-yard  to  Fort  Barrancas.  We  do  not  intend  to  let  General  Bragg 
send  all  his  troops  to  Manassas  with  impunity.  He  must  keep  at  least  five  thou 
sand  men  here  to  make  his  position  a  safe  one,  for  the  fleet,  the  regulars,  and  the 
'  pet  lambs '  are  all  watching  him  with  deep  interest." 

A  few  nights  afterward  the  boats,  under  the  command  of  the  gallant  Lieuten 
ant  Eussell,  of  the  Colorado,  went  in  and  burned  her  at  the  dock,  the  Captain 
being  prevented  by  etiquette  from  depriving  his  junior  of  this  chance  for  distin 
guished  service.  From  Pensacola  he  was  ordered  to  the  South-West  Pass  to 
blockade  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  and  cooperate  with  Admiral  Farragut  in 


36  THEODORUS      BAILEY. 

the  conquest  of  New-Orleans.  The  iron-clads  were  daily  expected  down  the  river 
to  attack  the  fleet,  and  Captain  Bailey  made  ample  preparations  and  longed  for 
their  coming,  confident  in  his  ability  to  fight  his  ship.  At  length  the  order  came 
to  cross  the  bar,  and  every  exertion  was  made  to  get  the  Colorado  over  in  vain, 
her  draught  preventing  it.  Determined  not  to  remain  on  her  inactive,  Captain 
Bailey,  although  suffering  from  the  effects  of  a  recent  surgical  operation,  asked 
of  Admiral  Farragut  a  command.  His  services  were  at  once  accepted,  and  most 
of  the  guns  and  men  of  the  Colorado  were  distributed  amongst  the  gunboats,  and 
her  commander  hoisted  his  flag  as  commander  of  the  Division  of  the  Eed  or  second 
division,  on  the  gunboat  Cayuga,  commanded  by  Captain  1ST.  B.  Harrison,  as  gal 
lant  a  sailor  and  as  loyal  a  Virginian  as  our  navy  ever  possessed. 

His  reports  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  tell  the  story  of  the  fight : 

"  UNITED  STATES  GUNBOAT  CAYUGA, 

AT  SEA,  May  7,  1862. 

"  HOK  GIDEON  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy :  » 

"  SIR  :  Having  found  it  impossible  to  get  the  Colorado  over  the  bars  of  the 
Mississippi,  I  sent  up  a  large  portion  of  her  guns  and  crew,  filling  up  deficiency 
of  both  in  the  different  vessels,  and  with  my  aid,  Acting  Midshipman  Higginson, 
steward,  and  boat's  crew,  followed  up  myself,  hoisting  by  authority  of  the  Flag- 
Officer  my  red  distinguishing  flag  as  second  in  command,  first  on  the  Oneida, 
Commander  Lee,  and  afterward  on  the  Cayuga. 

"  That  brave,  resolute,  and  indefatigable  officer,  Commander  D.  D.  Porter, 
was  at  work  with  his  mortar-fleet,  throwing  shell  at  and  into  Fort  Jackson,  while 
General  Butler,  with  a  division  of  his  army  in  transports,  was  waiting  a  favorable 
moment  to  land.  After  the  mortar-fleet  had  been  playing  upon  them  for  six  days 
and  nights,  without  perceptibly  diminishing  their  fire,  and  one  or  two  changes  of 
programme,  Flag-Officer  Farragut  formed  the  ships  into  two  columns,  '  line  ahead,' 
the  column  of  the  red,  under  my  orders,  being  formed  on  the  right,  and  consisted 
of  the  Cayuga,  Lieutenant  Commanding  Harrison,  bearing  my  flag  and  leading 
the  Pensacola,  Captain  Morris ;  the  Mississippi,  Commander  Smith ;  Oneida, 
Commander  S.  P.  Lee ;  Varuna,  Commander  C.  L.  Boggs ;  Katahdin,  Lieutenant 
Commanding  Preble  ;  Kineo,  Commanding  Eansom  ;  and  the  Wissahickon,  Lieu 
tenant  Commanding  A.  W.  Smith. 

"  The  column  of  the  blue  was  formed  on  the  left  and  up  the  river,  and  con 
sisted  of  flag-ship  Hartford,  Commander  R.  Wainwright,  and  bearing  the  flag  of 
Commander-in-Chief  Farragut ;  the  Brooklyn,  Captain  T.  T.  Craven ;  the  Rich 
mond,  Commander  Alden ;  the  Scioto,  bearing  the  divisional  flag  of  the  fleet, 
Captain  H.  H.  Bell,  followed  by  the  Iroquois,  Itasca,  Winona,  and  Kennebec. 


THEODORUS     BAILEY.  37 

"  At  two  A.M.  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fourth,  the  signal  to  advance  was 
thrown  out  from  the  flag-ship.  The  Cayuga  immediately  weighed  anchor  and  led 
on  the  column.  We  were  discovered  at  the  boom,  and  a  little  beyond  both  Forts 
opened  their  fires.  When  close  up  with  St.  Philip  we  opened  with  grape  and  can 
ister,  still  steering  on.  After  passing  their  line  of  fire,  we  encountered  the  Mont 
gomery  flotilla,  consisting  of  eighteen  gunboats,  including  the  ram  Manassas,  and 
the  iron  battery  Louisiana,  of  twenty  guns. 

"  This  was  a  moment  of  anxiety,  as  no  supporting  ship  was  in  sight.  By 
skilful  steering,  however,  we  avoided  their  attempts  to  butt  and  board,  and  had 
succeeded  in  forcing  the  surrender  of  three,  when  the  Yaruna,  Captain  Boggs,  and 
Oneida,  Captain  Lee,  were  discovered  near  at  hand.  The  gallant  exploits  of  these 
ships  will  be  made  known  by  their  commanders.  At  early  dawn  discovered  a 
rebel  camp  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river ;  ordering  Lieutenant  Commanding  N. 
P.  Harrison  to  anchor  close  along,  I  hailed  and  ordered  the  colonel  to  pile  up  his 
arms  on  the  river -bank  and  come  on  board.  This  proved  to  be  the  Chalmetto 
regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Szymanski.  The  regimental  flag,  tents,  and 
camp  equipage  were  captured. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-fifth,  still  leading  and  considerably  ahead  of 
the  line,  the  Chalmetto  batteries,  situated  three  miles  below  the  city,  opened  a 
cross-fire  on  the  Cayuga.  To  this  we  responded  with  our  two  guns.  At  the  end 
of  twenty  minutes  the  flag-ship  ranged  up  ahead  and  silenced  the  enemy's  guns. 
From  this  point  no  other  obstacles  were  encountered  except  burning  steamers,  cot 
ton-ships,  fire-rafts,  and  the  like.  Immediately  after  anchoring  in  front  of  the 
city,  I  was  ordered  on  shore  by  the  Flag-Officer  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the 
city,  and  that  the  flag  should  be  hoisted  on  the  Post-Office,  Custom-House,  and 
Mint.  What  passed  at  this  interview  will  be  better  stated  in  the  Flag-Officer's  re 
port.  On  the  twenty-sixth,  I  went  with  the  Flag-Officer  some  seven  miles  above 
the  city,  where  we  found  the  defences  abandoned,  the  guns  spiked,  gun-carriages 
burning.  These  defences  were  erected  to  prevent  the  downward  passage  of  Cap 
tain  Foote.  On  the  twenty-seventh,  a  large  boom,  situated  above  these  defences, 
was  destroyed  by  Captain  S.  Phillips  Lee.  On  the  twenty-eighth,  General  Butler 
landed  above  Fort  St.  Philip,  under  tlje  guns  of  the  Mississippi  and  Kineo.  This 
landing  of  the  army  above,  together  with  the  passage  of  the  fleet,  appears  to  have 
put  the  finishing  touch  to  the  demoralization  of  their  garrison.  Both  Forts  sur 
rendered  to  Commodore  Porter,  who  was  near  at  hand  with  the  vessels  of  his 
flotilla. 

"  As  I  left  the  river,  General  Butler  had  garrisoned  Forts  Jackson  and  St 
Philip,  and  his  transports  with  troops  on  board  were  on  their  way  to  occupy 
New-Orleans. 

"  I  cannot  too  strongly  express  my  admiration  of  the  cool  and  able  manage 
ment  of  all  the  vessels  of  my  line  by  their  respective  captains. 


38  T  II  EODORUS      BAILEY. 

"  After  we  had  passed  the  Forts  it  was  a  contest  between  iron  hearts  in 
wooden  vessels  and  iron-clads  with  iron  beaks,  and  the  '  iron  hearts '  won. 

"  On  the  twenty-ninth,  the  Cayuga,  Lieutenant  Commanding  Harrison,  was 
selected  to  bring  me  home,  a  bearer  of  despatches  to  the  Government 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"THEODOEUS  BAILEY,  Captain." 

"  UNITED  STATES  STEAM  GUNBOAT  CAYUGA, 

AT  SEA,  May  8. 
"  HOIST.  G.  WELLES,  Secretary  of  the  Navy : 

"  SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  herewith  a  duplicate  of  the  report  of 
Commander  Boggs,  late  of  the  Yaruna,  and  attached  to  my  division  of  the  attack 
ing  force.  This  gallant  officer  came  up  to  my  support  when  I  had  more  of  the 
enemy's  steamers  attacking  me  than  I  could  well  attend  to.  I  afterward  saw  him 
in  conflict  with  three  of  the  enemy's  steamers,  and  directed  Commander  Lee,  of 
the  Oneida,  to  go  to  his  support,  which  he  did  in  a  most  dashing  manner.  Com 
mander  Boggs's  description  of  the  loss  of  his  vessel  I  believe  to  be  accurate.  I 
saw  him  bravely  fighting,  his  guns  level  with  the  water,  as  his  vessel  gradually 
sunk  underneath,  leaving  her  bow  resting  on  the  shore  and  above  water. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

"T.  BAILEY,  Captain." 

Admiral  Farragut  in  his  despatch  says :  "  Captain  Bailey,  on  the  Cayuga, 
(Lieutenant  Commanding  Harrison,)  was  in  advance,  and  received  the  most  of  the 
fire  ;  but  although  the  shooting  was  good,  they  did  not  damage  his  little  vessel." 
Again  :  "I  send  Captain  Bailey  home  as  bearer  of  despatches.  He  has  done  his 
work  nobly,  and  that  while  suffering  under  an  infirmity  which  required  attention 
and  repose." 

After  the  fleet  had  passed  the  Forts,  Captain  Bailey  landed  and  carried  to 
the  City  Hall  a  summons  to  surrender.  On  his  way  he  was  surrounded  by  a  con 
stantly  swelling  and  infuriated  mob,  lost  to  all  sense  of  restraint,  cheering  for  Jeff 
Davis  and  Beauregard,  and  shouting,  "  Kill  him,"  "  Hang  him  to  a  lamp-post," 
"  Don't  let  him  go  back  alive,"  and  all  manner  of  insults  and  personal  abuse.  As 
he  strode  sturdily  along,  accompanied  only,  by  his  aid,  Midshipman  Higginson, 
of  the  Colorado,  amid  the  press  of  the  mob,  occasionally  his  hand  would  be 
grasped,  or  a  whisper  dropped  in  his  ear,  "  Glad  to  see  you,"  "  Why  didn't  you 
come  before?",  showing  the  existence  of  the  much-talked  of  Union  element  even 
then  and  there.  Captain  Bailey  freely  admits  that  for  the  first  time  in  that  infu 
riated  mob  he  experienced  a  sense  of  danger.  Once  only  he  stopped  to  speak, 
and  then  throwing  them  off  on  either  side,  he  exclaimed :  "  Why,  even  Fejee 
Islanders  respect  a  flag  of  truce."  He  reached  at  last  the  Mayor's  office  in  safety, 
the  preliminaries  were  arranged,  the  city  surrendered,  the  flag  restored,  and  Cap- 


THEODORUS      BAILEY.  39 

tain  Bailey  hastened  to  Washington  to  lay  the  good  tidings  before  the  Govern 
ment.  There,  at  New- York,  at  Plattsburgh,  and  other  places  he  was  received 
with  such  demonstrations  of  popular  good  will  as  more  than  compensated  for  the 
hardships  through  which  he  had  passed,  the  Mayor,  Common  Council  of  the 
city  of  New- York,  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  other  public  bodies  uniting 
in  showing  him  honor.  He  was  soon  afterward  raised  to  the  rank  of  Commo 
dore.  In  order  to  afford  Mm  an  opportunity  to  undergo  a  second  surgical  ope 
ration,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Sacketts  Harbor.  After  remaining 
there  a  few  months,  on  his  urgent  application  for  sea-orders,  he  was  assigned,  as 
Acting  Eear- Admiral,  to  the  command  of  the  Eastern  Gulf  blockading  squadron, 
consisting  of  some  twenty-six  vessels,  on  the  coast  of  Florida,  between  the  squad 
rons  of  Admirals  Du  Pont  and  Farragut. 


NATHANIEL  LYON. 

1VTATHANIEL  LYON  was  born  at  Ashford,  Windham  county,  Connec- 
_L  i  ticut,  in  the  month  of  June,  1819.  He  was  the  son  of  Amasa  Lyon,  a 
farmer.  He  entered  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  July 
1st,  1837 ;  was  graduated  in  1841,  and  appointed  a  second-lieutenant  in  the 
second  regiment  of  infantry.  He  served  in  Florida,  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
Seminole  War,  was  subsequently  stationed  for  several  years  at  different  posts 
on  the  Western  frontier,  and  was  promoted,  in  February,  1847,  to  be  first-lieu 
tenant.  Upon  the  commencement  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  Lieutenant  Lyon 
was  ordered  to  active  service  in  that  country.  He  joined  General  Taylor  at 
Monterey,  and  accompanied  his  regiment  when  it  was  detached  from  the  com 
mand  of  General  Taylor  to  that  of  General  Scott.  He  served  at  the  bombard 
ment  of  Yera  Cruz,  and  in  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo.  In  the  battles  of  Contre- 
ras  and  Churubusco,  he  commanded  his  company,  and  in  the  report  of  the  officer 
who  led  the  regiment  on  that  day  was  recommended  to  the  special  notice  of  the 
brigade  commander.  He  also  participated  in  the  capture  of  the  city  of  Mexico, 
and  was  wounded  by  a  musket-ball  in  the  assault  on  the  Belen  gate.  For  "  gal 
lant  and  meritorious  conduct"  in  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco  he  re 
ceived,  in  August,  1848,  the  brevet  of  Captain. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  ended,  Lyon  was  ordered  to  California.  He 
reached  that  country  soon  after  its  acquisition  by  the  United  States,  and  remain 
ed  there  several  years,  chiefly  employed  against  the  Indians.  The  full  rank  of 
Captain  was  conferred  upon  him  June  llth,  1851.  From  California,  Captain  Lyon 
was  again  ordered  to  the  Western  frontier,  and  served  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
in  the  height  of  the  political  troubles  there.  While  upon  this  duty  he  took  great 
interest  in  the  various  questions  which  divided  the  people,  and  became  strongly 
opposed  to  the  position  of  the  Democratic  party,  though  previously  he  had 
always  believed  and  acted  with  it.  Several  articles  written  by  him  during -the 
summer  and  fall  of  1860,  and  published  in  a  Kansas  newspaper,  express  his 
hope  for  the  country  in  the  election  of  the  Republican  candidate  for  President 
in  the  pending  canvass.  These  articles  are  written  with  manly  vigor,  and  in 
dicate  in  every  line  an  earnest  patriot  and  a  bold,  energetic  thinker. 

Captain  Lyon  was  the  United  States  officer  in  command  of  the  arsenal  at  St. 


NATHANIEL      LYON.  41 

Louis,  Missouri,  when,  on  May  6th,  1861,  the  police  commissioners  of  that  city 
formally  demanded  the  removal  of  the  United  States  soldiers  from  all  places  oc 
cupied  by  them  outside  the  arsenal  grounds.  Captain  Lyon  declined  compliance 
with  the  demand,  and  in  reply  to  the  charge  of  the  commissioners,  that  such 
occupancy  was  in  derogation  of  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States, 
required  to  know  what  provisions  of  the  constitution  and  what  laws  it  violated. 
Thus  rebuffed,  the  commissioners  referred  the  matter  to  the  governor  and  legis 
lature  of  the  state.  Not  long  before,  the  governor  of  Missouri  had  authorized 
the  formation  of  camps  of  instruction  in  various  parts  of  the  state,  and  on  May 
4th  such  a  camp  had  been  formed  under  the  supervision  of  General  Frost  at 
Lindell's  Grove,  near  St.  Louis.  Taken  with  the  action  of  the  commissioners 
and  the  general  tendency  of  affairs,  Captain  Lyon  regarded  the  concentration 
of  this  force  near  him  as  directly  hostile,  and  on  May  10th,  suddenly  surrounded 
the  camp  known  as  Camp  Jackson,  with  a  large  force  of  the  state  "Home 
Guards,"  the  then  newly  organized  volunteer  regiments  under  Blair  and  Siegel, 
and  twenty-three  pieces  of  artillery,  planted  his  guns  on  the  heights  around  the 
camp,  and  sent  in  to  General  Frost  the  following  letter  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  U.  S.  TROOPS, 

ST.  Louis,  Mo.,  May  Wth,  1861. 

"  GEN.  D.  M.  FROST,  commanding  Camp  Jackson  : 

• 

"  SIR  : — Your  command  is  regarded  as  evidently  hostile  toward  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States.  It  is  for  the  most  part  made  up  of  those  secessionists 
who  have  openly  avowed  their  hostility  to  the  general  government,  and  have 
been  plotting  at  the  seizure  of  its  property  and  the  overthrow  of  its  authority. 
You  are  openly  in  communication  with  the  so-called  Southern  Confederacy,  which 
is  now  at  war  with  the  United  States,  and  you  are  receiving  at  your  camp  from 
the  said  confederacy  and  under  its  flag,  large  supplies  of  the  material  of  war, 
most  of  which  is  known  to  be  the  property  of  the  United  States.  These  extra 
ordinary  preparations  plainly  indicate  none  other  than  the  well-known  purpose  of 
the  governor  of  this  state,  under  whose  orders  you  are  acting,  and  whose  pur 
pose,  recently  communicated  to  the  legislature,  has  just  been  responded  to  by 
that  body  in  the  most  unparalleled  legislation,  having  in  direct  view  hostilities  to 
the  general  government  and  co-operation  with  its  enemies. 

"In  view  of  these  considerations,  and  of  your  failure  to  disperse  in  obedience  to 
the  proclamation  of  the  President,  and  of  the  eminent  necessities  of  state  policy 
and  welfare,  and  the  obligations  imposed  upon  me  by  instructions  from  Wash 
ington,  it  is  my  duty  to  demand,  and  I  do  hereby  demand  of  you,  an  immediate 
surrender  of  your  command,  with  no  other  conditions  than  that  all  persons  sur 
rendering  under  this  demand  shall  be  humanely  and  kindly  treated.  Believing 


42  NATHANIEL    LYON. 

myself  prepared  to  enforce  this  demand,  one  half-hour's  time,  before  doing  so, 
will  be  allowed  for  your  compliance  therewith. 

"  Yery  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"  N.  LYOJST,  Capt.  2d  Infantry,  commanding  troops." 

General  Frost,  upon  consultation  with  his  subordinate  officers,  found  his 
command  unable  to  resist "  the  force  of  General  Lyon,  and  he  accordingly  sur 
rendered  his  whole  command  prisoners  of  war.  This  quick  and  severe  blow  at 
rebellion  in  Missouri  awakened  great  joy  in  the  hearts  of  all  the  Union  men  in 
that  state,  and  when,  four  days  later,  General  Harney  arrived  at  St.  Louis  and 
assumed  the  command  there,  Captain  Lyon  was  elected  to  the  command  of  the 
first  brigade  of  Missouri  volunteers.  On  May  15th,  he  effected  the  occupation  of 
Potosi,  whence  a  body  of  rebels  was  driven,  and  also  caused  in  rapid  succession 
several  important  seizures  of  war  material  in  various  parts  of  the  state.  No  other 
United  States  officer  exhibited  equal  activity  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 

By  agreement  with  General  Price  of  Missouri,  General  Harney  committed 
himself  to  a  course  of  inaction,  and  was  removed,  and  General  Lyon  was  thus 
left  in  command  of  the  department,  May  31st.  But  Harney's  agreement  with 
General  Price  had  contemplated  the  disbandment  of  the  state  troops  in  arms 
upon  the  governor's  requisition;  they  refused  to  disband,  and  the  governor 
declared  that  the  interests  and  sympathies  of  Missouri  were  identical  with 
those  of  the  slaveholding  states,  and  that  they  necessarily  united  her  destiny 
with  theirs,  and  the  legislature  passed  a  military  bill,  which  General  Lyon 
pronounced  "so  offensive  to  all  peaceable  inhabitants,  and  so  palpably  un 
constitutional,  that  it  could  be  accepted  by  those  only  who  were  to  conform 
to  its  extraordinary  provisions  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  their  cherished  ob 
ject — the  disruption  of  the  Federal  government."  Lyon  therefore  announced 
to  the  people,  by  proclamation,  that  his  duty  required  him  to  act  against  the 
so-called  state  forces,  and  he  accordingly  moved  from  St.  Louis,  June  17th,  toward 
Jefferson  City,  with  a  force  of  the  Missouri  Home  Guard  Volunteers,  and  some 
United  States  troops.  Governor  Jackson,  upon  Lyon's  approach,  endeavored 
to  impede  his  march  by  the  destruction  of  Moreau  bridge,  abandoned  Jefferson 
City,  burning  the  bridges  behind  him,  and  retreated  to  Booneville.  Lyon  pur 
sued  in  boats  up  the  Missouri  river,  and  on  the  same  day  landed  four  miles  be 
low  Booneville,  found  the  rebels  posted  in  the  road  near  that  place,  immediately 
opened  fire  upon  them,  and  drove  them  from  their  position.  They  fell  back  and 
formed  again  in  the  woods,  whence  they  kept  up  a  sharp  fire  upon  the  national 
forces.  General  Lyon  then  ordered  a  feigned  retreat,  and  when  the  rebels  were 
well  drawn  from  their  cover  in  pursuit,  he  opened  upon  them  a  severe  fire  of  ar 
tillery  and  musketry,  and  they  were  dispersed  in  complete  rout.  Lyon's  force 


NATHANIEL      LYON.  43 

was  about  two  thousand,  and  his  loss  was  very  small.  The  rebel  force  was  about 
four  thousand,  and  their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  nearly  one  hundred.  A 
great  many  of  their  men  were  made  prisoners.  General  Lyon  then  issued  a  procla 
mation  from  Booneville,  in  which,  after  a  statement  of  the  facts  in  relation  to  the 
battle,  he  said :  "I  hereby  give  notice  to  the  people  of  this  state,  that  I  shall 
scrupulously  avoid  all  interference  with  the  business,  right,  and  property  of  every 
description  recognized  by  the  laws  of  the  state,  and  belonging  to  law-abiding 
citizens.  But  it  is  equally  my  duty  to  maintain  the  paramount  authority  of  the 
United  States  with  such  force  as  I  have  at  my  command,  which  will  be  retained 
only  so  long  as  opposition  makes  it  necessary,  and  that  it  is  my  wish,  and  shall  be 
my  purpose,  to  visit  any  unavoidable  rigor  arising  in  this  issue  upon  those  only 
who  provoke  it." 

General  McCulloch,  with  a  large  force,  was  at  this  time  in  the  south 
western  part  of  the  state,  and  was  soon  joined  by  General  Price  with  some  por 
tion  of  the  Missouri  rebels,  and  subsequently  by  Parsons  and  General  Eains. 
Lyon  left  Booneville  to  march  against  them  July  3d.  His  small  force  swelled 
as  he  advanced,  and  when  he  reached  Springfield,  July  20th,  he  had  under 
his  command  ten  thousand  men  ;  but  this  force  had  again  decreased  to  six 
thousand  by  August  1st.  On  that  day  at  five  P.  M.,  General  Lyon  marched  to 
look  for  the  rebels,  who  were  said  to  be  in  motion  toward  Springfield,  and 
not  finding  them,  bivouacked  ten  miles  south  of  the  town.  Early  the  next 
day  the  march  was  resumed,  and  about  noon,  at  a  place  called  Dug  Spring,  the 
rebels  were  reported  in  sight.  A.  halt  was  ordered,  and  while  a  reconnoissance  was 
made,  two  companies  of  regular  infantry  were  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers, 
supported  by  a  company  of  cavalry.  This  force  encountered  a  body  of  about 
five  hundred  rebels,  and  a  warm  fire  was  exchanged.  The  national  infantry  was 
hard  pressed,  when  this  advanced  body  of  the  rebels  was  entirely  scattered  by  a 
brilliant  charge  of  the  cavalry.  The  rebels  rallied,  however,  engaged  the  infantry 
again,  and  having  received  support  formed  a  line  to  advance,  but  at  this  juncture 
Captain  Totteii's  artillery  was  brought  to  bear,  and  after  a  few  discharges  scattered 
them  for  the  day.  Next  morning,  August  3d,  the  march  was  continued  six  miles 
further,  but  the  enemy  made  no  stand,  and,  unable  to  bring  on  a  general  action, 
and  being  out  of  provisions,  and  with  many  of  his  men  ill,  Lyon  marched  his 
force  back  to  Springfield,  which  he  reached  August  5th.  Generals  McCulloch, 
Price,  Rains,  and  Colonel  Parsons,  were  then  known  to  be  in  motion  toward  Spring 
field  with  a  combined  force  variously  reported  at  eight,  twenty,  and  twenty-four 
thousand  men,  well-armed  and  effective.  They  reached  Wilson's  Creek,  ten  miles 
south-west  of  Springfield,  August  6th,  and  encamped  there.  General  Lyon,  thus 
vastly  outnumbered,  and  left  without  reinforcements,  saw  but  little  hope  for  success, 
and  a  council  of  his  officers  advised  the  abandonment  of  Springfield  and  a  fur- 


44  NATHANIEL    LYON. 

ther  retreat :  he  determined,  however,  to  attack  the  rebels  in  their  camp,  and  for 
that  purpose  marched  from  Springfield  on  the  9th,  at  sunset,  with  but  little  over 
five  thousand  men.  His  force  was  disposed  in  two  columns.  The  right  or  main 
column  comprised  four  regiments  and  a  battalion  of  volunteers,  five  companies 
of  regular  infantry,  one  company  of  artillery  recruits,  and  two  batteries  of  artil 
lery,  and  was  commanded  by  General  Lyon  in  person.  The  left  column  was  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Siegel,  and  was  made  up  of  two  battalions  of  volunteers  and 
six  field-pieces.  The  rebel  camp  stretched  along  "Wilson's  Creek  for  three  miles, 
and  it  was  intended  that  the  two  columns  should  attack  it  at  nearly  opposite  ex 
tremities.  Lyon's  column  encountered  the  rebel  pickets  near  the  northern  end  of 
their  camp  at  five  P.  M.,  and  one  of  his  volunteer  regiments  was  soon  warmly 
engaged  with  the  rebel  infantry,  whom  they  drove  from  an  eminence,  on  which  the 
national  artillery  was  immediately  posted  and  opened  fire.  Eepeated  attempts 
of  the  rebels  to  carry  this  position  were  repulsed,  and  the  battle  merged  into  this 
endeavor  on  the  part  of  the  rebels,  until  Siegel  made  his  attack  in  the  rear  and 
fired  their  baggage  train,  when  they  desisted  from  their  attempt  against  the  bat 
teries  and  the  battle  was  virtually  relinquished. 

From  the  first  attack  General  Lyon  had  actively  assisted  and  encouraged  his 
men  where  the  fight  was  thickest,  and  was  thrice  wounded.  Near  nine  A.  M., 
when  the  enemy  was  about  to  make  one  of  his  several  attempts  against  Totten's 
battery,  the  first  Iowa  regiment  was  brought  up  to  relieve,  in  its  support,  the 
Kansas  first  and  second.  This  regiment  had  lost  its  colonel,  and  when  Lyon 
ordered  it  to  prepare  to  repel  the  enemy  with  the  bayonet,  the  men  called  upon 
him  to  lead  them.  He  had  been  standing  by  his  horse,  but  now  mounted  to 
lead  the  charge,  and  gave  the  word.  The  rebels  did  not  stand,  but  delivered 
their  fire  and  broke.  General  Lyon  was  struck  by  a  rifle-ball  in  the  breast. 
He  fell  into  the  arms  of  his  body-servant  and  expired  almost  immediately. 
His  fall  was  not  generally  observed,  and  the  battle  continued  for  several  hours 
after  it. 

Four  months  after  General  Lj^on's  death,  on  the  20th  December,  1861,  the 
following  resolution  was  introduced  into  the  United  States  Senate  from  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  unanimously  concurred  in  : 

"  Resolved,  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of 
America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  Congress  deems  it  just  and  proper  to  enter 
upon  its  records  a  recognition  of  the  eminent  and  patriotic  services  of  the  late 
Brigadier-General  Nathaniel  Lyon.  The  country  to  whose  service  he  devoted 
his  life  will  guard  and  preserve  his  fame  as  a  part  of  its  own  glory.  Second, 
That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  hereby  given  to  the  brave  officers  and  soldiers 
who,  under  the  command  of  the  late  General  Lyon,  sustained  the  honor  of  the 
flag,  and  achieved  victory  against  overwhelming  numbers  at  the  battle  of  Spring- 


NATHANIEL      LYON.  45 

field,  in  Missouri ;  and  that,  in  order  to  commemorate  an  event  so  honorable  to 
the  country  and  to  themselves,  it  is  ordered  that  each  regiment  engaged  shall 
be  authorized  to  bear  upon  its  colors  the  word  '  Springfield,'  embroidered  in 
letters  of  gold.  And  the  President  of  the  United  States  is  hereby  requested 
to  cause  these  resolutions  to  be  read  at  the  head  of  every  regiment  in  the  army 
of  the  United  States." 

Previous  to  its  adoption,  however,  Senator  Pomeroy,  of  Kansas,  delivered 
an  eloquent  tribute  to  the  general's  memory  as  follows: 

"  Mr.  President :  The  resolutions  which  have  just  been  read  to  the  Senate  were 
introduced  to  the  House  of  Representatives  by  the  distinguished  member  from 
St.  Louis,  and  passed  the  House  very  unanimously.  I  trust  they  will  in  like 
manner  pass  the  Senate.  But  to  me  there  is  one  reason  why  they  should  re 
ceive  at  least  a  passing  notice.  The  state  of  Kansas  was  largely  interested  in 
that  battle  at  Wilson's  Creek,  near  Springfield,  and  the  country  and  mankind 
have  a  large  interest  in  the  fame  of  the  immortal  Lyon,  who  fell  in  that  battle. 
Such  a  man  and  such  a  general  is  not  often  found,  and  very  rarely  combined  in 
one  person.  Perhaps  I  may  be  pardoned  here  for  saying  that  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  a  personal  acquaintance  with  General  Lyon  for  years ;  and  it  was  an  acquaint 
ance  formed  and  matured  under  the  most  impressive  circumstances.  The  early 
struggles  for  the  freedom  of  our  own  state  were  not  unlike  in  their  nature  the 
present  struggles  of  the  nation.  The  same  questions,  to  a  great  extent,  entered 
into  the  one  that  now  convulse  the  other.  The  same  interests,  passions,  and 
barbarity,  so  disgraceful  to  our  age  and  humanity,  entered  as  largely  into  that 
struggle  as  in  the  present. 

"  General  Lyon,  whose  deeds  and  fame  now  belong  to  the  whole  country,  was 
then  Captain  Lyon,  of  the  regular  army,  stationed  at  Fort  Eiley,  in  Kansas. 
He  had  for  ten  years  served  the  country  in  that  capacity,  and  without  promo 
tion.  He  was  as  true  a  soldier  as  ever  stood  in  the  line  of  battle ;  a  sagacious 
officer,  strict  in  habit  and  discipline,  and  an  honest  man. 

"  His  attention  to  me,  on  an  occasion  of  great  personal  fatigue  and  exposure — 
taking  me  to  his  quarters,  welcoming  me  to  all  his  comforts,  and  then  loaning 
me  his  own  horse,  fresh  and  strong,  and  taking  in  charge  mine  exhausted  and 
worn,  were  acts  of  generosity  and  kindness  that  I  shall  never  forget.  The  ele 
ments  of  a  friendship  cemented  by  unity  of  sentiment  and  principle,  in  an  hour 
of  great  extremity,  are  the  most  enduring  attachments  of  this  life. 

"  As  Captain  Lyon,  he  sympathized  with  the  free  state  men  of  Kansas, 
espoused  their  cause,  and  vindicated  their  rights  in  the  presence  of  superior 
army  officers  and  government  appointees,  who  were,  even  there,  as  false  to  their 
country,  to  freedom,  and  to  God,  as  secession  itself.  He  was  then,  as  always, 
an  earnest  man,  true  among  the  false,  faithful  among  the  faithless,  devotedly 


46  NATHANIEL   LYON. 

attached  to  the  Union  that  he  loved,  the  constitution  that  he  vindicated,  and  the 
flag  of  his  country  for  which  he  died. 

"  Comparisons  are  odious,  and  I  hesitate  to  draw  them.  Still,  amidst  the 
general  inactivity  so  prevalent  on  the  Potomac,  and  so  discouraging  to  live  men, 
it  is  refreshing  to  notice  that  when  the  order  was  for  Captain  Lyon  to  take  and 
capture  General  Frost's  command  at  Camp  Jackson,  the  ink  was  scarcely  dry  on 
the  order  before  that  work  was  accomplished. 

"  The  10th  day  of  May  will  be  forever  memorable  in  St.  Louis  as  a  day  when 
one  decisive  blow,  struck  by  one  decided  officer,  forever  freed  that  city  from 
subjection  to  the  rebellion.  And  there  she  remains  to-day  a  proud  monument, 
her  edifices  standing  in  towering  magnificence,  vindicating  that  policy,  and  safe 
amidst  surrounding  desolation. 

"  One  Friday  morning  in  June  last,  Claib.  Jackson,  the  so-called  governor  of 
Missouri,  issued  his  proclamation,  declaring  war  against  the  United  States  forces 
in  Missouri.  That  very  afternoon,  before  the  sun  went  down,  General  Lyon 
commenced  moving  his  little  army  of  two  thousand  seven  hundred  men  upon 
steamboats,  at  St.  Louis,  and  was  soon  under  way  for  Jefferson  City,  the  capital. 
On  the  following  Sabbath  evening,  he  took  possession  quietly  of  that  capital. 
The  rebels,  governor,  and  officers,  and  soldiers,  had  fled,  burning  bridges,  and 
spreading  destruction  in  their  train.  Before  Monday  morning,  he  commenced 
moving  a  portion  of  that  little  invincible  army  to  Booneville,  fifty  miles  further 
up,  where  he  engaged  the  enemy  and  dispersed  them,  taking  the  city.  Thus,  I 
say,  it  is  refreshing  to  see  that  there  was  one  general  who  could  move  his  army 
three  hundred  miles  in  three  successive  days,  and  have  a  battle  and  a  victory ! 
General  Lyon  moved  south  from  Booneville  toward  Springfield,  in  the  wake  of 
the  fleeing  rebels,  who  were  retreating  into  Arkansas.  After  several  successful 
skirmishes  about  Springfield,  restoring  order  and  quiet,  he  halted  there  for 
reinforcements.  On  his  way  there,  he  was  joined  by  one  regiment  from  Iowa 
and  two  from  Kansas. 

"  And  now  may  I  be  allowed  to  pause  in  my  argument  a  moment  to  say  that 
these  two  regiments  were  only  the  first  generous  offerings  of  our  young  state 
to  the  cause  of  the  country  ?  But  the  flower  and  pride  of  our  young  state 
were  in  them.  These  were  of  the  kind  of  men  who  spring  spontaneously 
to  their  arms  in  an  hour  of  danger.  They  mustered  in  as  infantry  in  the 
month  of  June,  and  were  ordered  immediately  into  Missouri.  Thank  God 
there  were  no  wretched  traitors  in  Kansas  left  unhung  to  rise  up  against 
their  country,  and  to  seek  the  overthrow  of  the  government.  So  our  troops 
were  ordered  into  Missouri — many  of  them  without  one  day's  notice.  The 
first  day's  march  of  one  regiment  was  forty-five  miles  in  twenty-two  succes 
sive  hours,  without  baggage-wagons  or  ambulances.  And  before  they  could 


NATHA-NIELLYON.  47 

be  provided  with  clothing  or  shoes,  they  were  ordered  onward  and  still  onward 
into  Missouri ;  and  when  they  had  joined  General  Lyon  at  Springfield,  they  had 
marched  over  three  hundred  miles ;  and  one  of  the  regiments  had  only  seven 
baggage-wagons !  A  part  of  the  Kansas  and  Iowa  regiments,  under  an  order 
from  General  Sweeney,  were  marched  in  two  days  from  Springfield  to  Forsyth, 
sixty  miles,  and  had  a  battle ;  and  after  dispersing  the  rebels,  returned  to  Spring 
field  in  two  and  a  half  days ;  and  during  this  unparalleled  marching,  over  two 
hundred  of  these  brave  men  were  entirely  destitute  of  shoes. 

"  But  the  memorable  day  about  which  cluster  all  the  interests  of  that  south 
western  campaign  was  the  10th  day  of  August,  1861.  Upon  the  evening  of  the 
9th,  as  darkness  quietly  settled  down  into  the  valleys,  and  light  lingered  blush- 
ingly  upon  the  hill  tops,  this  little  army  of  five  and  a.  half  thousand  men  set  out 
to  meet  twenty-five  thousand  and  engage  them  in  conflict.  They  marched  by 
two  different  routes  all  night,  and  at  daybreak  came  upon  the  enemy  encamped 
upon  Wilson's  Creek.  Immediately,  without  waiting  on  points  of  etiquette, 
General  Lyon  formed  the  line  of  battle.  And  here  began,  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  the  conflict  of  arms — more  terrible  and  destructive,  according  to  num 
bers,  than  ever  engaged  men  on  this  continent  before.  From  the  beginning  to 
the  close,  for  six  and  a  half  hours,  the  firing  was  incessant  and  terrific.  At  half- 
past  ten  o'clock  the  man  of  all  men  there — the  general  of  all  generals  in  this  war 
—fell  at  the  head  of  one  of  our  regiments,  leading  them  gloriously  onward  to 
victory.  He  placed  himself  there  in  a  moment,  in  response  to  the  call  of  these 
men  as  unconquerable  as  himself.  General  Lyon  had  before,  that  day,  been  twice 
wounded,  and  had  one  horse  shot  under  him.  lie  resisted  all  entreaties  for 
refreshments,  willing  to  hazard  every  thing  himself,  anxious  only  for  his  men 
and  their  cause.  He  neither  faltered  nor  complained,  until  the  fatal  shaft  entered 
the  life  fountain,  and  the  '  golden  bowl  was  broken.'  He  thus  sunk  quietly  to 
rest,  amidst  the  din  of  battle  and  the  smoke  of  the  contest — the  Warren  of  this 
war.  The  battle  went  on,  though  its  leader  had  fallen.  Few  of  either  officers 
or  men  knew  what  had  occurred.  T'he  enemy  being  repulsed,  returned  with 
fresh  regiments,  again  and  again,  but  returned  only  to  retreat  in  confusion, 
leaving  their  trail  strewn  with  the  fallen.  Our  troops  advanced  and  took  posses 
sion  of  the  field.  The  rebels,  in  fear,  now  burned  their  own  baggage-wagons. 
Volumes  of  smoke  rolled  up  from  every  side  of  the  battle-field,  and  concentrat 
ing  above  them,  hung  the  heavens  in  a  drapery  of  mourning.  The  rebels  were 
receding,  and  the  firing  ceased  altogether.  * 

"  Thus  ended  the  10th  day  of  August,  1861  ;  evening  shadows,  cooling 
the  heat  of  both  sun  and  fire ;  our  troops  marched  regularly  to  camp.  And  I 
now  say,  in  contradiction  to  much  that  has  been  written  and  said,  that  that 
battle  was  a  triumph.  It  was  a  costly  one  ;  nevertheless  a  victory.  What  other 


48  NATHANIEL    LYON. 

battle-field  was  ever  won  more  triumphantly  ?  I  do  not  allow  the  fact  that  there 
were  not  reinforcements  on  hand  sufficient  to  hold  that  whole  country,  to  detract 
from  the  brilliant  triumph  of  our  arms  that  day.  It  was  a  battle  of  five  thousand 
five  hundred  men  against  twenty-five  thousand ;  and  a  victory  of  the  few  over 
the  many ;  showing  again  that 

" '  Thrico  armed  is  he  who  hath  his  quarrel  just.' 

"The  hero  of  that  battle  sleeps  beside  other  graves,  in  his  dear  native 
valley.  lie  has  been  literally  'gathered  to  his  fathers.'  There  need  be  no 
monument  of  marble  or  granite  for  him.  All  the  way  from  St.  Louis  to  Connec 
ticut  his  remains  were  honored  by  tributes  of  respect  from  a  grateful  people. 
I  had  the  melancholy  pleasure  of  seeing  the  almost  spontaneous  gathering  of  his 
old  friends  at  Hartford.  They  honored  suitably  the  noble  dead.  In  that  they 
honored  themselves.  From  Hartford  to  Eastford,  where  he  now  sleeps,  the  way 
was  all  marked  by  tokens  that  were  becoming  to  a  returning  conqueror.  The 
dear  old  people  at  home  have  garnered  up  his  memory ;  it  shall  be  to  them  as 
endearing  as  liberty  and  life." 


FKANZ    SIGEL. 

NEVER  engaged  in  any  battle  where  the  side  upon  which  he  fought  could 
fairly  claim  an  unqualified  victory ;  and  never  engaged  in  a  separate  com 
mand  where  he  was  not  compelled  to  retreat,  Franz  Sigel  yet  keeps  a  sure  hold 
upon  public  confidence,  and  a  perusal  of  his  career  compels  the  acknowledgment 
of  his  thorough  soldiership,  and  his  ability  as  a  general.  This  can  only  be  the 
result  of  some  real  power  in  the  man,  for  the  world — and  especially  our  world 
— is  too  fond  of  success  to  overlook  disaster ;  and  unless  fully  impressed  with 
the  conviction  that  a  better  chance  than  he  has  hitherto  had  would  show  a  better 
result,  it  would  not  hesitate  to  cry  down  the  soldier  whose  only  fault  has  been  an 
utter  want  of  luck,  that  great  constituent  of  military  fame. 

FRANZ  SIGEL  was  born  at  Zinsheim,  in  the  grand  duchy  of  Baden,  Novem 
ber  18th,  1824.  His  father  held  the  important  position  of  Kreisumtman — the 
highest  magistrate  in  the  county  of  Bruchsal.  Franz  received  a  liberal  edu 
cation,  and  was  graduated  from  the  military  school  at  Carlsruhe,  whence  he 
entered  the  regular  army  of  Baden.  Rapid  advance  is  not  common  in  that 
service,  yet  the  young  lieutenant  had  reached  the  post  of  chief-adjutant  in  the 
year  1847,  and  in  this  perhaps,  we  may  see  the  benefit  of  his  father's  position. 
But  when  the  revolution  broke  out  in  Southern  Germany,  young  Siegel  openly 
sympathized  with  it  and  was  even  said  to  have  been  compromised  in  Struve's 
premature  attempt  to  revolutionize  his  native  state ;  through  these  difficulties  he 
lost  his  commission  in  the  Badish  army.  All  Germany  was  at  that  period 
divided  upon  the  great  question  of  a  central  government — with  a  liberal  con 
stitution,  and  the  cashiered  lieutenant  at  once  cast  his  fortunes  with  the 
liberal  party.  He  entered  the  contest  with  the  natural  ardor  of  a  young  soldier 
already  martyred  in  what  he  believed  to  be  the  cause  of  his  country  and  of 
freedom.  Various  journals  agitated  the  cause  on  the  part  of  the  liberals,  and  for 
these  Sigel  wrote  earnestly  against  the  government,  and  in  favor  of  a  new  one. 
He  thus  acquired  a  considerable  influence  with  the  people,  and  became  prom 
inent  among  the  leaders  of  the  movement.  In  March,  1849,  a  preliminary 
parliament  was  held  at  Frankfort,  which  issued  a  call  for  a  National  Assembly  to 
meet  in  May,  and  to  submit  a  plan  of  government.  Disturbances  in  Rhenish 
Bavaria  anticipated  the  action  of  the  assembly  thus  called,  and  were  denounced 
by  the  opponents  of  the  liberal  movement,  as  only  the  trickery  of  the  agitators, 


50  FRANZ    «SIGEL. 

intended  to  make  changes  in  the  government  appear  more  necessary,  and  to  com 
mit  the  people  in  advance  to  whatever  revolutionary  measures  might  be  brought 
forward  at  Frankfort.  Prussian  soldiers  were  immediately  marched  into  Khenish 
Bavaria.  Scarcely  had  the  Prussians  moved  than  the  liberalists  in  the  grand 
duchy  of  Baden  made  common  cause  with  those  in  Khenish  Bavaria,  and  about 
twenty  thousand  persons  publicly  assembled  at  Offenburg  in  Baden,  passed  a 
series  of  resolutions,  to  the  eifect  that  the  movement  in  Khenish  Bavaria  should 
be  supported,  that  the  constitution  voted  by  the  National  Assembly  should  be 
acknowledged,  and  that  officers  in  the  army  should  be  chosen  by  the  private 
soldiers.  Many  soldiers  were  in  attendance,  and  one  of  the  resolutions  that  re 
ferred  to  them  secured  their  adherance.  On  the  same  day  the  fortress  of  Kastadt 
was  seized  by  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  and  disturbances  broke  out  at 
Carlsruhe.  By  ten  o'clock  that  night,  the  grand  duke  and  his  ministers  were  in 
full  flight,  and  the  state  was  in  the  hands  of  the  liberal  party  A  "  National 
Committee"  assumed  the  powers  of  government.  Lieutenant  Eichfield  was  made 
minister  of  war,  and  Lieutenant  Sigel  became  prominent  among  the  young 
officers  whose  fortunes  were  in  the  movement,  and  who  were  ready  to  organize 
and  lead  a  popular  army.  With  the  state  itself  there  had  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  liberals,  seven  millions  florins  in  coin,  two  and  a  half  in  paper,  and 
seventy  thousand  muskets,  besides  those  in  the  hands  of  the  army.  The  army 
numbered  seventeen  thousand  men.  Some  energetic  measures  were  taken  by 
the  new  government ;  but,  in  accordance  with  the  revolutionary  idea,  the  army 
was  ordered  to  choose  its  officers  anew.  Doubtless,  this  was  the  death-blow  of  the 
revolutionary  cause,  for  it  virtually  deprived  the  state  of  its  army.  Discipline 
was  destroyed,  and  all  organization  entirely  lost.  "  Soldiers  appeared  on  parade," 
says  an  eye-witness,  "in  what  they  had  indiscriminately  plundered  from  the 
stores  at  Carlsruhe.  Shakos,  helmets,  caps,  great-coats,  frocks,  full-dress  and  un 
dress  uniforms,  all  figured  in  the  same  ranks Officers  and  privates,  arm-in 
arm,  and  excessively  drunk,  reeled  through  the  streets."  Raw  recruits  rose  to 
the  rank  of  major  in  a  day,  and  a  similar  disproportion  between  service  and  posi 
tion  prevailed  throughout.  Head-quarters  were  established  at  Heidelberg,  and 
there  Lieutenant  Sigel  arrived  May  19th. 

Five  days  later,  a  meeting  of  liberals  near  the  frontier,  in  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
was  dispersed  by  the  Hessian  soldiery,  and  Lieutenant  Sigel  was  ordered  to  lead 
the  revolutionary  army  of  Baden  across  the  frontier.  Four  battalions  of  the  line, 
with  about  six  thousand  volunteers,  were  reviewed  at  Heidelberg  previous  to  the 
march ;  and  Sigel,  as  commander  of  the  troops,  issued  a  manifesto,  in  which  was 
set  forth  the  reasons  why  he  prepared  to  enter  the  territory  of  Hesse-Darmstadt. 
But  Mieroslawski,  a  Pole,  who  had  been  called  to  the  chief  command,  arrived 
before  the  troops  moved,  and  Sigel  lost  this  early  chance  of  distinction. 


FRANZ    SIGEL.  51 

The  revolutionary  force,  between  ten  and  twelve  thousand  strong,  marched 
May  28th.  On  the  1st  of  June,  the  "  National  Committee"  was  superseded  by  a 
"  Provisional  Government" — formed  of  the  same  men  as  the  committee  had  been 
— and  Sigel  was  made  minister  of  war.  From  that  period  he  necessarily  exer 
cised  a  controlling  influence  upon  the  struggle ;  but,  though  no  serious  blow  had 
yet  been  struck,  the  strength  of  the  cause  was  gone.  Bad  counsel  had  prevailed ; 
the  army  was  already  ruined ;  the  volunteers  who  came  forward  to  fight  fell 
into  the  radical  German  error,  confounded  personal  with  political  freedom,  and 
were  consequently  impossible  to  control ;  and  the  confidence  of  the  people  was 
lost.  Moreover,  the  leaders  themselves  appeared  to  have  lost  faith  in  the  move 
ment.  Yet,  under  the  administration  of  the  young  minister,  a  far  from  con 
temptible  resistance  was  made  to  the  united  imperial  and  Prussian  armies. 

Active  operations  against  the  revolutionary  forces  began  about  the  first  of 
June ;  and  an  imperial  army,  under  Peucker,  advanced  from  Furth  in  two  col 
umns,  and  came  up  with  the  army  under  Mieroslawski,  near  Weinheim,  on  the 
14th.  Mieroslawski  attacked  Peucker's  front  and  right  flank,  posted  in  the  vil 
lage  of  Grossacken,  at  six,  A.  M.,  on  the  15th,  and  obtained  some  advantage,  but 
was  repulsed,  though  the  battle  continued  till  night.  Peucker  renewed  the  battle 
on  the  16th,  and  suffered  severely  from  Mieroslawski's  artillery,  but  drove  the 
latter  from  his  position.  Both  sides  claimed  the  victory,  and  Mieroslawski  re 
gretted  his  inability  to  pursue,  through  want  of  cavalry  ;  but  each  fell  back  to 
the  position  occupied  previous  to  the  fight  on  the  15th. 

Peucker  was  superseded  in  command  of  the  imperial  army  by  the  Prince  of 
Prussia,  who  proclaimed  the  grand-duchy  of  Baden  in  a  state  of  war,  and  that  all 
offenders  against  military  law  should  be  tried  by  court-martial,  and,  if  deemed 
necessary,  punished  with  death.  Mieroslawski  withdrew  his  forces  from  his  posi 
tion  near  Weinheim  to  Waghausel  on  the  Rhine,  whither  he  was  followed  by  the 
Prince  of  Prussia,  whom  he  attacked,  June  22d.  lie  was  again  beaten,  however, 
and  retreated  to  the  upper  Neckar  and  the  region  of  the  Black  Forest.  Sigel, 
though  minister,  was  present,  and  took  an  active  part  in  these  battles.  After 
their  victory  at  "Waghausel,  the  Prussians  crossed  the  Neckar,  came  up  with  the 
revolutionary  forces  at  Ettlingen,  beat  them  again,  and  drove  them  across  the 
Murg.  Mieroslawski  now  abandoned  the  cause  and  fled,  and  Sigel  assumed  the 
chief  command.  With  his  broken  and  demoralized  forces  he  made  a  splendid 
retreat,  and  reached  the  fortress  of  Rastadt  without  loss  of  a  gun.  Here  the 
most  considerable  portion  of  the  revolutionary  army  was  now  left,  while  Sigel 
endeavored  to  rally  further  resistance  in  other  quarters,  and  concentrated  a  force 
at  Salem,  in  the  Badish  lake  district.  But  the  members  of  the  provisional  gov 
ernment  were  already  fugitives,  and  Rastadt  was  invested;  and,  though  some 
further  resistance  was  offered,  it  was  at  best  but  a  guerilla  warfare,  and  was  soon 


52  FRANZSIGEL. 

abandoned  by  Sigel,  who  entered  Switzerland,  July  llth.  Driven  from  the 
Swiss  territory,  in  common  with  all  other  fugitives  from  Baden,  by  the  decree 
of  the  government  of  the  Helvetic  confederation,  he  was  compelled  to  seek  a  fur 
ther  refuge,  and  reached  the  United  States  in  1850.  He  took  up  his  residence 
in  New  York  city,  became  associated  in  the  conduct  of  an  academy  in  Market 
street,  and  married  the  daughter  of  the  principal  of  that  academy,  Dr.  Dulon. 
He  also  took  an  active  interest  in  the  volunteer  militia  organization,  and  even 
held  the  position  for  some  months,  under  Colonel  Schwarzwaelder,  of  major  in 
the  fifth  regiment 

In  September,  1858,  Sigel  removed  from  New  York  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
was  employed  as  a  teacher  in  the  German- American  Academy,  when  the  present 
war  became  imminent.  Peace  had  perhaps  become  ennuyante  after  ten  years,  and 
Sigel  immediately  "determined,  in  the  event  of  war,  to  take  an  active  part. 
Known  as  a  soldier  of  experience,  he  obtained  a  colonel's  commission,  and,  upon 
the  first  call  of  the  President  upon  the  people,  he  organized  a  regiment  of  his 
countrymen,  which,  under  the  designation  of  the  third  Missouri,  was  incorpo 
rated,  May  15th,  in  General  Lyon's  first  Missouri  brigade.  This  regiment  was 
one  of  those  enlisted  for  three  months.  Under  Sigel's  command,  it  participated 
in  the  seizure  of  Camp  Jackson,  where,  posted  with  Blair's  regiment,  and  four 
pieces  of  artillery,  on  the  ridge  to  the  north  of  the  rebel  position,  it  guarded  the 
main  approach  to  it,  and  prevented  the  possibility  of  assistance  being  received 
by  the  rebels  from  St.  Louis.  This  movement  was  effected  with  a  celerity  and 
precision  that  spoke  highly  for  the  degree  of  discipline  to  which  the  regiment 
had  already  attained.  After  the  capture  of  this  rebel  force,  Governor  Jackson 
was  known  to  be  very  active  in  the  organization  of  another  at  Jefferson  City,  and 
General  Lyon  apprehended  that  the  intention  was  to  make  a  sudden  movement 
upon  St.  Louis.  He  therefore  posted  the  several  regiments  under  his  command 
at  the  various  avenues  of  approach  to  the  city,  to  guard  against  this  movement, 
and  also  to  intercept  supplies  and  munitions  of  war  which  it  was  endeavored  to 
send  from  St.  Louis  to  the  rebel  governor  at  the  state  capital.  In  discharge  of 
this  duty,  Colonel  Sigel  with  his  regiment  was  posted  to  the  west  of  the  city,  in 
Lindall's  Grove,  and  performed  efficient  service  there. 

Just  previous  to  the  battle  at  Booneville,  Mo.,  rebel  military  organizations  be 
came  very  active  toward  the  Arkansas  border,  and  Ben  M'Culloch  was  known  to 
be  in  motion  with  forces  for  the  assistance  of  Jackson  and  Price,  then  at  Jeffer 
son  City.  Rather  to  watch,  perhaps,  than  to  fight  these  forces,  Colonel  Sigel  was 
ordered  for  active  service  in  the  extreme  south-western  part  of  Missouri,  and  left 
St.  Louis  with  six  companies  of  his  regiment  on  the  night  of  June  llth,  followed 
on  the  next  day  by  the  other  four  companies.  Colonel  Salomon's  regiment,  the 
fifth,  was  subsequently  added  to  his  command,  which  also  included  the  various 


FEANZ  BIGEL.  53 

home-guard  organizations  of  the  district.  Squads  of  men  were  detached  all  along 
the  Pacific  railroad,  to  guard  the  bridges,  and  keep  open  communication ;  and 
from  Eolla,  the  terminus  of  the  road,  Colonel  Sigel  marched  his  force  to  Spring 
field,  and  thence  extended  his  line  of  operations  westward  to  Sarcoxie.  After 
the  battle  of  Booneville,  and  when  the  forces  of  Jackson  and  Price  were  in  full 
retreat  toward  the  Arkansas  border,  all  eyes  were  turned  toward  Colonel  Sigel, 
then  the  only  man  in  a  position  to  intercept  them,  and .  news  from  his  command 
was  breathlessly  expected  from  day  to  day.  Throughout  the  state  more  was 
likely  to  be  expected  from  him  then  than  a  calm  review  of  his  force  would  just 
ify  ;  for  his  whole  command  numbered  less  than  three  thousand  men,  and  his 
line  of  operations  was  nearly  three  hundred  miles  in  extent.  Yet  the  bulk  of  his 
force  was  gathered  to  the  west  of  Springfield,  for  there  was  evidently  the  critical 
point,  and  toward  that  point  Major  Sturgis  pressed  hurriedly  forward  with  his 
Kansas  men ;  and  with  his  face  turned  that  way,  the  earnest  Lyon  hurried  the 
preparations  for  his  march  from  Booneville.  From  Booneville,  Jackson  had  re 
treated  to  Lexington,  and  every  day  contradictory  reports  of  his  movements 
reached  Sigel.  Now  he  had  formed  a  junction  with  Price,  with  Eains,  with 
Parsons,  or  with  M'Culloch,  and  his  force  was  reported  at  every  number  from 
six  hundred  to  ten  thousand.  Moreover,  this  united  force  was  represented  at 
various  times  to  be  upon  every  road  by  which  it  could  possibly  reach  the  Arkan 
sas  line.  Sigel's  duty  to  watch  or  intercept  this  body  with  such  a  part  of  his  own 
command  as  he  could  have  at  any  one  place,  was  thus  no  light  one ;  and  still 
Lyon  did  not  move,  and  Sturgis  was  heard  from  very  far  away. 

Sigel,  with  only  his  own  regiment,  arrived  in  Sarcoxie  on  Friday,  June  28th, 
at  five  P.  M.,  and  there  learned  certainly  that  Price,  with  between  eight  and  nine 
hundred  men,  was  encamped  to  the  south  of  Neosho,  twenty-two  miles  west  of 
Sarcoxie;  and  that  Jackson's  troops,  under  command  of  Parsons,  and  another 
body,  under  General  Rains,  were  to  the  north,  near  Lamar.  He  determined  to 
march  against  Price,  near  Neosho,  and  to  attack  subsequently  those  to  the  north. 
He  accordingly  marched  from  Sarcoxie  on  the  morning  of  the  29th ;  but,  on  the 
same  morning,  the  rebel  camp  at  Neosho  was  broken  up,  and  the  troops  there 
stationed  fled.  Sigel  then  ordered  the  battalion  of  the  fifth  regiment,  at  Mount 
Vernon,  under  Colonel  Salomons,  to  join  him  at  Neosho ;  and  as  soon  as  they 
had  arrived,  he  moved  forward,  leaving  one  company  in  Neosho,  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  4th  of  July  encamped  on  Spring  River,  one  mile  to  the  south-east 
of  Carthage,  the  county  seat  of  Jasper  county.  The  troops  had  marched  twenty 
miles  that  day.  Colonel  Sigel  ascertained  that  Jackson,  with  four  thousand  men, 
was  only  nine  miles  distant,  encamped  on  the  prairie.  His  own  force  consisted 
of  nine  companies  of  the  third  regiment,  seven  companies  of  the  fifth  regiment — 
in  all  nine  hundred  and  fifty  men — with  two  batteries  of  artillery,  of  four  field- 


54  FRANZ      SI  GEL. 

pieces  each.  With  this  force  he  moved,  on  the  morning  of  July  5th,  to  attack 
the  rebels.  Dry  Fork  Creek  was  passed  six  miles  north  of  Carthage,  and  after  a 
further  march  of  three  miles,  Jackson's  force  was  found  drawn  up  in  order  of 
battle,  on  an  eminence  which  rises  gradually  from  the  creek,  and  is  about  a  mile 
distant.  Jackson's  front  presented  three  regiments,  one  regiment  of  cavalry  being 
on  each  wing,  and  the  centre  being  formed  of  infantry,  cavalry,  and  two  field- 
pieces  ;  other  field-pieces  were  posted  on  the  wings.  The  force  in  this  line  was 
computed  at  two  thousand  five  hundred  men.  Behind  it  was  a  large  force  in 
reserve.  Colonel  Sigel  detached  one  cannon,  and  an  infantry  company,  to  pro 
tect  his  baggage,  three  miles  in  the  rear,  and  at  about  nine,  A.  M.,  opened  fire  with 
his  artillery.  The  fire  was  promptly  answered,  and  the  rebel  cavalry  moved  for 
ward  on  his  flanks,  and  threatened  to  turn  them.  Notwithstanding  this  move 
ment,  Colonel  Sigel  continued  his  fire  until  that  of  the  enemy  was  sensibly  weak 
ened,  when  he  ordered  the  guns  to  be  advanced.  Captain  Wilkins,  commander 
of  one  of  the  batteries,  at  this  moment  announced  that  his  ammunition  was 
exhausted.  Both  wings  were  also  engaged  with  the  rebel  cavalry,  and  the  loss 
of  the  entire  baggage  became  imminent.  A  retreat  toward  Dry  Fork  Creek  was 
accordingly  ordered ;  and  at  that  point,  after  a  junction  with  the  baggage-train,  a 
stand  was  made  for  upwards  of  two  hours,  and  a  heavy  loss '  inflicted  upon  the 
enemy.  Meanwhile,  the  rebel  cavalry  had  completely  surrounded  Colonel  Sigel's 
command,  and  formed  a  line  in  his  rear,  on  Buck  Branch,  a  little  creek  which  it 
was  necessary  that  he  should  pass.  At  this  point  a  feint  was  made  toward  either 
flank  of  the  enemy's  line,  which  drew  his  whole  force  into  the  road,  and  exposed 
it  to  the  fire  of  the  national  artillery.  One  round  was  fired,  and  the  infantry 
charged  at  double  quick,  and  completely  routed  these  two  regiments.  From  this 
point  the  march  was  undisputed,  until  Sigel's  command  reached  a  ridge  to  the 
north  of  Carthage,  on  the  Springfield  road,  where  the  enemy  again  took  position. 
Here  a  severe  fight  occurred,  the  hardest  of  the  day.  The  enemy  was  driven 
from  his  position,  and  the  Union  force  obtained  cover  in  a  wood,  which  rendered 
the  enemy's  cavalry  for  the  time  useless.  After  the  men  were  somewhat  rested 
in  the  wood,  the  march  was  continued  to  Sarcoxie,  which  they  reached  at  two, 
A.  M.,  on  the  6th.  Reliable  accounts  represented  the  rebel  loss  on  this  day  at 
three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  while  the  whole  loss  in  Sigel's  command  was  but 
thirteen  killed  and  thirty-one  wounded. 

Soon  after  the  battle  near  Carthage,  the  whole  Union  force  in  Missouri  sub 
ject  to  the  command  of  General  Lyon  was  concentrated  at  Springfield.  While 
they  remained  there,  the  three  months  for  which  Colonel  Sigel's  regiment  was 
enlisted  expired,  and  he  began  to  reorganize  it  for  the  war.  Inspired  by  their 
whole  association,  and  especially  by  the  recent  fight,  with  high  admiration  of  and 
entire  confidence  in  their  colonel,  six  hundred  of  his  men  re-enlisted,  and  the 


FRANZ    SIGEL.  55 

regiment  was  soon  filled  up  by  recruits  from  the  neighborhood  of  Springfield  and 
from  St.  Louis.  When,  in  the  beginning  of  August,  General  Lyon  left  Spring 
field  upon  his  first  march  in  search  of  the  rebel  army,  Colonel  Sigel  accompanied 
him  with  a  battalion  of  the  third  regiment,  was  present  at  the' Dug  Spring  skir 
mish,  and  returned  to  Springfield  with  the  general. 

Lyon  determined,  on  the  9th  of  August,  to  attack  the  rebels  in  their  camp 
on  Wilson's  creek,  and  with  this  purpose  divided  his  force  into  two  columns : 
the  right  he  commanded  in  person,  and  the  command  of  the  left  was  intrusted  to 
Colonel  Sigel.  Sigel's  division  consisted  of  a  battalion  of  the  third  regiment, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Albert ;  a  battalion  of  the  fifth,  under  Colonel  Salomon 
— only  nine  hundred  men  in  the  two  battalions ;  six  pieces  of  artillery,  and  two 
companies  of  cavalry  of  the  United  States  army.  It  should  be  remembered  that 
the  men  of  the  fifth  regiment  were  on  this  occasion  volunteers  in  a  double  sense, 
as  the  term  of  their  enlistment  had  expired  eight  days  before ;  and  that  the  third 
regiment  was  composed  in  a  great  degree  of  recruits  who  were  imperfectly  drilled, 
and  had  never  been  under  fire.  Moreover,  the  field-pieces  were  not  served  by 
practiced  artillerymen,  but  by  men  taken  from  the  infantry  regiments.  Sigel's 
command  left  Camp  Fremont,  south  of  Springfield,  at  sunset  on  the  9th,  and  at 
daybreak  on  the  10th  was  within  a  mile  of  the  south-eastern  extremity  of  the 
enemy's  camp.  Here  the  advance  was  very  slowly  and  carefully  made,  and  a 
large  number  of  prisoners  was  taken  before  the  rebels  had  discovered  the  prox 
imity  of  the  Union  forces.  Four  pieces  of  artillery  were  planted  on  a  hill  in 
sight  of  the  rebel  camp,  a  line  formed  to  support  them,  and  when  the  firing  an 
nounced  that  Lyon's  attack  had  begun,  the  four  pieces  opened  a  very  destructive 
fire.  Under  cover  of  this,  the  infantry  advanced,  drove  out  the  enemy,  and 
formed  nearly  in  the  centre  of  his  camp ;  whereupon  the  artillery  was  also  moved 
forward,  and,  after  some  minutes,  the  enemy  was  driven  into  the  woods  in  confu 
sion.  In  order  to  render  all  possible  assistance  to  Lyon's  attack,  Colonel  Sigel 
now  advanced  still  more  to  the  north-west — further,  it  is  said,  than  had  been  con 
templated  in  the  plan  of  attack — and  even  received  a  very  destructive  fire  from 
Totten's  battery.  Taking  a  position  near  a  farmhouse,  he  formed  his  men  across 
a  road  that  he  supposed  the  enemy  would  follow  in  retreat ;  and  meanwhile  the 
firing  in  Lyon's  direction  almost  entirely  ceased,  and  it  w&s  supposed  that  the 
attack  had  been  successful.  This  was  the  state  of  affairs  at  half-past  eight 
o'clock,  when  it  was  reported  to  Colonel  Sigel  by  his  skirmishers  that  "Lyon's 
men  were  coming  up,"  along  the  very  road  which  he  had  supposed  the  rebels 
would  take,  and  the  infantry  and  artillery  were  notified  not  to  fire  on  men  com 
ing  in  that  direction.  Lyon's  men  were  thus  momentarily  expected,  when  a 
strong  column  of  infantry  appeared;  two  batteries  simultaneously  opened  fire 
on  Sigel's  men,  and  the  infantry  also.  Great  confusion  spread  in  the  national 


56  FRANZ     SIGEL. 

ranks,  and  the  cry  was  raised  that  Lyon's  men  were  firing  on  them.  Order  could 
not  be  restored  in  time  to  avail,  and  the  rebel  infantry  advanced  to  within  ten 
paces  of  Sigel's  guns,  and  killed  the  horses.  Salomon's  regiment  broke,  and 
could  not  be  rallied ;  Sigel's  also  broke,  but  was  partially  rallied,  and  brought 
away  one  gun.  Thus  repulsed,  Sigel  could  only  make  the  best  of  his  way  to 
Springfield,  which  he  did,  and  there  formed  a  junction  with  the  other  column, 
learned  of  Lyon's  death,  and  assumed  the  command  as  next  in  rank.  Prepara 
tions  were  made  the  same  night  for  a  further  retreat,  and  at  daybreak  on  the  llth 
the  whole  command  moved  toward  the  Gasconade  River,  which,  contrary  to  ex 
pectation,  was  reached  without  a  fight.  But  before  that  river  was  passed,  some 
question  as  to  his  actual  rank  was  raised ;  and,  though  it  was  known  that  Sigel 
had  then  been  confirmed  a  brigadier-general,  the  fact  that  he  had  not  received 
his  commission  was  insisted  upon,  and  the  command  was  assumed  by  Major 
Sturgis,  of  the  United  States  army,  who  conducted  the  retreat  to  Eolla. 

Franz  Sigel  received  his  commission  as  a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers, 
August  17th.  On  the  19th  he  arrived  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  enthusiasti 
cally  received  by  his  German  fellow-citizens,  upon  whom  his  recent  achievements 
had  made  a  great  impression.  He  remained  in  St.  Louis  several  weeks,  confer 
ring  with  the  commander  of  the  department  upon  the  various  measures  necessary 
for  the  march  southward  of  a  large  force,  and  left  that  city  to  take  command  of 
the  advance — the  largest  division  of  Fremont's  army — then  posted  at  Georgetown 
and  Sedalia.  He  arrived  in  Sedalia  September  28th,  and  on  October  13th 
marched  from  that  place  for  Warsaw,  "  with  sufficient  force  to  open  the  way ;" 
passed  the  Osage  at  Warsaw  on  the  16th,  and  reached  Springfield,  to  the  great 
joy  of  its  inhabitants,  October  27th.  Sigel's  command  was  at  this  time  in  splen 
did  condition.  To  all  the  wants  and  grievances  of  his  men  he  gave  personal 
attention,  mingled  with  them  on  the  march  and  in  camp,  and  cheered  them 
through  every  difficulty.  He  was  consequently  a  great  favorite,  and  they  were 
enthusiastically  eager  to  follow  him  in  the  actual  strife.  But  while  the  advance 
still  remained  at  Springfield,  General  Fremont  was  removed  from  the  command, 
his  plan  of  campaign  was  abandoned,  and  Sigel  with  his  brigade  retraced  his 
steps  to  Rolla.  New  measures  were  now  inaugurated.  General  Hunter  assumed 
the  command,  and  we  hear  of  activity  in  every  part  of  the  state,  upon  both  sides ; 
and  the  rebels  are  roughly  handled  in  several  places ;  Price  again  advances  to 
the  Osage,  and  again  retires ;  but  in  all  these  movements  we  hear  but  little  of 
Sigel.  And  thus  it  continued  for  the  remainder  of  October,  for  November  and 
December ;  and  while  all  was  movement,  life,  and  triumph  around  him,  he  fret 
ted  in  compulsory  inactivity,  till  it  seemed  that  he  was  forgotten,  or  that  there 
was  an  intention  to  ignore  his  past  services.  From  this  state  of  affairs  a  rumor 
easily  spread  that  it  was  his  intention  to  resign  his  commission,  and  general 


FRANZ    SIGEL.  57 

credence  was  given  to  it.  "For  a  long  time,"  said  one  of  liis  friends,  "things 
have  looked  as  though  the  intention  were  to  trifle  with  him.  Where  he  sowed, 
where  he  was  first  in  the  field  and  was  the  first  to  strike,  and  while  his  name 
rang,  like  that  of  Mars,  from  every  German  lip  throughout  the  Union,  and  helped 
to  fill  the  camps,  others  are  now  to  reap  the  harvest." 

General  Sigel  did  indeed  feel  that  injustice  had  been  done  to  him,  and  that 
he  had  been  improperly  interfered  with  in  his  command.  Finally,  it  appeared  to 
him  impossible  to  retain  his  position  under  the  circumstances  and  with  a  proper 
regard  to  his  self-respect ;  and  on  the  31st  of  December,  therefore,  he  tendered 
his  resignation.  General  Halleck,  to  whom  the  resignation  was  sent,  at  St.  Louis, 
did  not,  it  is  said,  immediately  forward  it  to  Washington.  General  Sigel,  wrhen 
informed  of  this,  reiterated  the  tender,  January  14th,  and  demanded  the  imme 
diate  dispatch  of  his  letter  to  head -quarters.  He  was,  however,  compelled  on 
January  27th  to  tender  his  resignation  for  a  third  time,  which  was  not  accepted. 


AIsTDEEW   HULL   FOOTE. 

ANDKEW  HULL  FOOTE  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  Septem 
ber  12th,  1806.  His  father,  Samuel  A.  Foote,  well  known  in  the  political 
history  of  Connecticut  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century,  as  a  member  of 
the  legislature  and  governor  of  the  state,  served  also  several  terms  in  Congress ; 
and  was  in  1830  the  mover,  in  the  United  States  Senate,  of  the  resolution  com 
monly  known  as  "  Foote's  resolution  on  the  public  lands,"  which  gave  rise  to  the 
celebrated  debate  between  Daniel  "Webster  and  Eobert  Y.  Hayne. 

Young  Foote  was  intended  by  his  parents  for  one  of  the  learned  professions, 
but  exhibiting  a  strong  inclination  for  a  sea-life,  he  was  allowed,  in  December, 
1822,  to  enter  the  navy  as  acting  midshipman,  and  made  his  first  cruise  in  the 
schooner  Grampus,  Commander  Gregory,  which  formed,  part  of  the  squadron 
under  Commodore  Porter,  dispatched  in  1823  to  the  West,  Indies,  to  chastise  the 
pirates  who  infested  those  waters  and  preyed  upon  American  commerce.  Hav 
ing  participated  with  credit  in  this  dangerous  service,  he  obtained  a  midshipman's 
warrant,  and  in  1824  joined  the  Pacific  squadron  under  Commodore  Hull.  In 
1827,  he  passed  his  examination  for  passed-midshipman ;  in  1830,  he  was  com 
missioned  a  lieutenant;  and  in  1833,  he  was  ordered  to  join  the  Delaware,  sev 
enty-four,  bearing  the  broad  pennant  of  Commodore  Patterson,  as  flag-lieutenant 
of  the  Mediterranean  squadron.  During  his  service  on  this  station  he  visited 
every  accessible  place  of  historic  interest,  and  with  a  party  of  brother-officers 
explored  many  parts  of  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land,  extending  his  journey  to  the 
Dead  Sea  and  the  adjacent  regions.  In  1838,  he  was  appointed  first-lieutenant 
of  the  sloop-of-war  John  Adams,  in  which  he  accompanied  Commodore  Eead  in 
his  voyage  of  circumnavigation,  participating  in  the  attack  upon  the  towns  of 
Quallahbattoo  and  Abuckie,  in  the  island  of  Sumatra,  which  had  become  a  noted 
rendezvous  of  pirates ;  and  rendering  effectual  service  to  the  American  mission 
aries  at  Honolulu,  in  obtaining  the  publication  of  their  defence,  and  in  supporting 
them  against  the  false  charges  of  the  French  commander,  La  Place. 

From  1841  until  1843,  Lieutenant  Foote  was  stationed  at  the  Naval  Asylum, 
in  Philadelphia,  where  his  efforts  were  beneficially  directed  to  ameliorate  and 
elevate  the  condition  of  the  inmates.  A  consistent  advocate,  from  his  youth 
upward,  of  total  abstinence  from  spirituous  liquors,  he  had  not  failed  during  his 


ANDREW      HULL      FOOTE.  59 

experience  of  sea-life  to  observe  the  demoralizing  influence  upon  sailors  of  an 
habitual  indulgence  in  drinking,  even  when  it  did  not  produce  intoxication. 
"Waiving  for  the  time  any  notice  of  the  plea,  so  frequently  urged,  that  the  severe 
labors  and  hardships  imposed  upon  the  sailor  compel  him  to  resort  to  grog  as  a 
stimulant  (which  he  did  not  believe,  his  opinion  being  that  "  whiskey-rations  are 
evil,  and  only  evil,  and  that  continually"),  he  maintained  that  the  case  of  the 
retired  pensioner  differed  essentially  from  that  of  the  sailor  on  active  duty,  and 
that  the  former  would  be  happier  and  better  without  his  grog.  With  admirable 
address,  he  prevailed  upon  many  of  the  "  old  salts"  under  his  charge  to  take  the 
temperance  pledge,  and  to  the  surprise  of  the  incredulous  carried  out  his  predic 
tions  to  the  letter,  the  institution  showing  a  marked  improvement  in  discipline 
and  order  during  the  period  that  he  was  connected  with  it.  The  reform  thus 
commenced  twenty  years  ago,  by  an  earnest  advocate  of  total  abstinence,  has 
since  been  extended  to  the  entire  service,  and  in  the  estimation  of  experienced 
persons  will  greatly  raise  the  standard  of  its  personnel. 

On  his  next  cruise,  which  he  niacle  in  the  frigate  Cumberland,  in  1843-'45, 
as  first-lieutenant,  Foote  tested  his  theory  of  the  benefits  of  total  abstinence  upon 
a  sea-going  crew,  whom  he  succeeded  in  persuading  to  give  up  their  grog.  The 
spirit-room  was  accordingly  emptied  of  its  contents ;  and  the  improvement  in  the 
moral  as  well  as  the  physical  condition  of  the  men  was  perceptible  in  the  high 
order  of  discipline  soon  attained,  and  which  made  the  Cumberland  a  model  ship. 
Nor  did  Lieutenant  Foote  stop  here.  Having  established  sobriety  and  order  in 
the  ship,  he  directed  his  attention  to  the  religious  instruction  of  the  crew,  and 
delivered  weekly  a  Sunday  lecture  on  the  berth-deck,  at  which  nearly  two  hun 
dred  of  the  men  voluntarily  attended.  Many  of  them  also  took  part  in  prayer- 
meetings  which  usually  succeeded  the  lecture. 

Soon  after  returning  home,  Lieutenant  Foote  was  ordered  to  the  Charles- 
town  navy-yard,  where  he  discharged  the  duties  of  executive  officer  during  the 
Mexican  War,  being  prevented  from  participating  in  that  struggle  by  a  species 
of  ophthalmia  contracted  in  Egypt.  In  October,  1849,  he  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  brig  Perry,  and  ordered  to  join  the  American  squadron  under 
Commodore  Gregory  on  the  coast  of  Africa.  The  suppression  of  the  slave-trade 
was  the  special  service  assigned  to  him,  and  the  British  squadron  cruising  in  the 
game  waters  found  no  more  earnest  or  efficient  co-operator.  Several  slavers  were 
captured  and  condemned ;  and  the  trade  was,  in  fact,  broken  up  along  a  consid 
erable  portion  of  the  coast — a  result  so  satisfactory  to  the  American  government, 
that  Lieutenant  Foote  received  from  the  naval  department  an  official  recognition 
of  his  services.  This  compliment  was  doubly  earned  from  the  fact  that,  while 
engaging  in  every  effort  to  put  down  the  nefarious  traffic  in  human  flesh,  he  had 
rigidly  kept  in  view,  in  his  communications  with  the  British  authorities,  the 


60  ANDREW    HULL    FOOT  E. 

great  principle  of  the  "War  of  1812,  maintaining  that  "  the  deck  of  an  American 
vessel  under  its  flag  is  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  and  that  no  other  au 
thority  but  that  of  the  United  States  could  ever  be  allowed  to  exercise  jurisdic 
tion  over  it."  It  is  worthy  of  note  also  that  during  this  cruise  of  two  and  a  half 
years,  not  a  drop  of  grog  was  served  out  to  the  crew,  and  not  an  officer  or  man 
was  for  any  lengthened  period  on  the  sick-list  (although  the  station  is  notoriously 
unhealthy),  or  was  lost  or  disabled.  Lieutenant  Foote  subsequently  embodied 
his  observations  and  reflections  on  this  cruise  in  an  interesting  volume  entitled 
"Africa  and  the  American  Flag,"  which  contains  a  general  survey  of  the  African 
continent  in  its  physical,  historical,  and  social  relations,  with  remarks  on  the 
progress  of  colonization  and  the  blighting  influence  of  the  slave-trade.  Return 
ing  home  in  1852,  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  commander,  and  appointed  executive 
officer  at  the  Naval  Asylum,  at  which  post  he  remained  about  a  year. 

His  next  important  service  was  on  the  "Naval  Retiring  Board,"  composed 
of  fifteen  of  the  most  competent  officers  of  the  navy,  to  whom  was  assigned  the 
ungracious  task  of  reporting  the  names  of  those  of  their  brother-officers  who  were 
incapacitated  by  age  or  other  causes  from  discharging  their  duties,  in  order  that 
their  places  might  be  filled  by  younger  and  better  men.  It  may  be  doubted 
whether  the  government  could  have  employed  a  more  faithful  or  conscientious 
person  in  this  service ;  and  the  fact  that  President  Pierce  subsequently  reinstated 
many  officers  whose  incompetency  had  been  reported  by  the  board,  in  no  respect 
affects  the  action  of  Commander  Foote  and  his  associates,  who  simply  performed 
a  duty  imposed  upon  them  by  Congress. 

In  1856,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  sloop-of-war  Portsmouth,  and 
ordered  to  proceed  to  the  China  station.  Arriving  at  Canton  in  October,  just 
previous  to  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the  English  and  Chinese, 
he  landed  an  armed  force  in  the  city  for  the  protection  of  the  American  residents, 
whom,  in  view  of  the  threatening  aspect  of  affairs,  he  advised  to  remove  their 
property.  His  boat,  carrying  the  American  flag  at  her  stern,  having  been  fired 
upon  from  the  Canton  barrier  forts  while  he  was  engaged  in  this  duty,  he  re 
ceived,  after  urgent  solicitation,  permission  from  Commodore  Armstrong,  his 
commanding  officer,  to  vindicate  the  honor  of  the  flag  by  attack  upon  the  forts. 
The  Levant  was  ordered  to  support  the  Portsmouth,  but  grounded  in  coming  up 
the  river,  so  that  the  latter  vessel  was  compelled  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  attack 
alone.  Anchoring  under  a  heavy  fire  at  the  distance  of  four  hundred  and  ninety 
yards  from  the  nearest  fort,  she  succeeded,  in  less  than  two  and  a  half  hours. 
in  silencing  all  the  forts,  four  in  number ;  and  on  the  next  day,  November  21st, 
in  company  with  the  Levant,  she  renewed  the  attack  with  great  effect.  A  breach 
having  been  made  in  the  nearest  fort,  which  was  the  strongest  of  all,  Commander 
Foote  landed  with  a  force  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  sailors  and  marines,  and 


\ 
ANDRE  WHULLFOOTE.  61 

carried  the  work  by  assault.  Within  the  next  two  days  the  remaining  forts  were 
stormed  in  the  face  of  a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy ;  and  on  the  24th,  the  Amer 
ican  flag  waved  over  all  of  them.  The  forts  were  massive  granite  structures,  with 
walls  seven  feet  thick,  mounting  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  guns,  and  were 
garrisoned  by  five  thousand  men,  of  whom  upward  of  four  hundred  were  killed 
and  wounded.  The  American  loss  did  not  exceed  forty.  This  gallant  series  of 
actions  took  place  within  sight  of  the  British  and  French  squadrons,  and  greatly 
enhanced  the  reputation  of  the  American  navy  as  a  ready  and  efficient  vindicator 
of  the  national  flag.  The  foreign  officers  and  correspondents  of  the  English 
newspapers  spoke  in  high  praise  of  the  conduct  of  Commander  Foote  and  his 
men ;  and  as  the  Portsmouth  and  Levant  dropped  down  the  river  past  the  British 
squadron,  the  admiral,  Sir  Michael  Seymour,  ordered  the  rigging  of  the  ship  to  be 
manned,  while  the  crew  greeted  the  American  vessels  with  loud  cheers,  and  the 
band  played  "Hail  Columbia"  and  "Yankee  Doodle."  The  effect  of  the  capture 
of  the  forts  was,  to  cause  the  American  flag  to  be  thenceforth  respected  by  the 
Chinese,  and  to  open  the  way  for  the  treaty  made  in  the  succeeding  year  by  Mr. 
Reed.  Commander  Foote  subsequently  visited  Japan  and  Siam,  on  important 
business  in  behalf  of  his  government,  and  after  a  cruise  of  two  years  returned  in 
June,  1858,  to  the  United  States. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  found  Commander  Foote  stationed  at  the 
Brooklyn  navy-yard  as  executive  officer,  in  which  capacity  he  aided  in  fitting  out 
many  vessels  of  the  blockading  squadron.  In  July,  1861,  he  received  his  cap 
tain's  commission ;  and  in  the  September  following  he  was  appointed  to  succeed 
Commander  Rodgers  as  flag-officer  of  the  flotilla  fitting  out  in  the  Western  waters 
to  co-operate  with  the  land-forces  in  opposing  the  rebels  in  that  part  of  the  coun 
try.  The  obstacles  with  which  he  had  to  contend  in  prosecuting  this  work  were 
numerous  and  vexatious ;  and  in  the  absence  of  the  means  and  appliances  which 
are  always  at  hand  in  the  government  ship-yards,  he  was  obliged  to  tax  his  con 
structive  genius  to  the  utmost  in  order  to  keep  pace  with  the  public  expectation, 
working  day  and  night  with  unflagging  energy.  "  The  most  difficult  and  ardu 
ous  work  of  my  life,"  he  wrote  to  a  friend  several  months  afterward,  "has  been 
the  improvising  of  the  flotilla  which,  under  God,  has  been  so  efficient  in  repress 
ing  rebellion,  and  in  protecting  loyal  interests  upon  the  magnificent  rivers  of  the 
West.  My  other  acts  are  more  than  appreciated — this  probably  never  will  be." 
The  obstacles  were  nevertheless  overcome  with  a  skill  and  promptness  surprising 
to  all  who  were  unacquainted  with  the  man  and  with  the  native  energy  of  his 
character ,  and  long  before  active  military  operations  commenced  in  the  West, 
every  one  of  the  vessels  comprising  the  flotilla  was  completed,  and  awaiting  its 
crew  and  armament 

Early  in  February,  1862,  the  long-expected  advance  against  the  enemy  com- 


62  ANDEEW    HULL    FOOTE. 

menced  with,  an  attack  on  Fort  Henry,  an  important  position  on  the  Tennessee 
River ;  and  to  Flag-Officer  Foote  was  assigned  the  privilege  of  opening  the  cam 
paign,  and  of  demonstrating  the  efficiency  of  the  flotilla  in  whose  equipment  he 
had  labored  so  assiduously.  His  fleet  of  gunboats,  seven  in  number,  of  which 
four  were  iron-clad,  entered  the  Tennessee  River  on  the  5th  of  February,  with 
the  design  of  co-operating  with  a  large  land-force,  under  General  Grant,  in  the 
reduction  of  the  fort ;  but  the  troops  not  arriving  on  the  ground  in  season,  Foote 
opened  fire,  at  about  noon  of  the  6th,  with  the  gunboats  alone,  and  after  a  spirited 
action  of  two  hours,  in  which  his  vessels  were  pretty  roughly  handled,  compelled 
the  rebel  General  Tilghman  to  make  an  unconditional  surrender.  About  twenty 
large  guns  and  an  immense  amount  of  munitions  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  federal 
commander.  The  prisoners  numbered  only  about  sixty,  comprising  the  remnant 
of  the  garrison ;  a  rebel  force  of  five  thousand  men,  encamped  outside  the  fort, 
having  been  dispersed  by  shots  from  the  fleet  during  the  progress  of  the  fight. 
The  Cincinnati,  the  flag-officer's  ship,  was  hit  thirty-one  times ;  but  the  casualties 
of  the  fleet,  with  the  exception  of  the  Essex  (which  received  a  shot  in  her  boiler, 
whereby  twenty-nine  officers  and  men  were  injured),  were  slight. 

Having  transferred  the  fort  and  prisoners  to  General  Grant,  who  arrived  on 
the  ground  an  hour  after  the  surrender,  Flag-Officer  Foote  returned  to  Cairo,  and 
a  few  days  later  sailed  for  the  Cumberland  River,  to  assist  the  land-forces  in  an 
attack  upon  Fort  Donelson,  a  work  of  great  size  and  strength,  mounting  many 
heavy  guns  on  the  water-side.  At  three  o'clock  P.  M.,  on  the  14th  of  February, 
the  fleet  moved  up  to  the  attack,  which  for  an  hour  and  a  quarter  was  conducted 
with  great  vigor  on  both  sides,  and  would  have  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the 
fort,  had  not  the  St.  Louis,  Foote's  flag-ship,  and  the  Louisville,  become  unman 
ageable,  by  having  their  steering  apparatus  shot  away,  and  drifted  out  of  the  fire. 
The  enemy  immediately  returned  to  the  guns  from  which  they  had  been  driven, 
and  the  remaining  vessels  were  obliged  to  haul  off,  somewhat  the  worse  for  the 
encounter.  The  St.  Louis  alone  received  sixty-one  shots,  and  among  the  wounded 
was  her  gallant  commander,  who  was  severely  injured  in  the  ankle  by  the  frag 
ment  of  a  sixty-four-pound  shot.  With  no  thought  of  his  own  suffering,  though 
moving  with  great  difficulty  upon  crutches,  he  proceeded  up  the  river  in  his  flag 
ship  immediately  after  the  surrender  of  the  fort  to  the  land-forces  under  General 
Grant,  took  possession  of  Clarksville  without  firing  a  gun,  and  destroyed  the  Ten 
nessee  Iron- Works,  which  had  been  used  for  the  manufacture  of  iron  plates  for 
rebel  steamers. 

After  a  brief  respite  at  Cairo,  Foote  sailed  down  the  Mississippi  with  his 
flotilla,  greatly  increased  in  efficiency  by  the  addition  of  the  mortar-boats,  whose 
construction  he  had  also  superintended.  The  enemy  evacuated  their  strong  posi 
tions  at  Columbus  and  Hickman  previous  to  his  approach,  influenced  doubtless 


AN  DREW     HULL      FOOTE.  63 

by  the  wholesome  terror  which  the  gunboats  (the  "  iron  hell-hounds,"  as  General 
Pillow  called  them)  had  in'spired  among  them  ;  and  on  March  seventeenth  was 
commenced  the  famous  siege  of  Island  Number  Ten.  Through  all  the  tedious 
episodes  of  that  investment  Foote  remained  faithfully  at  his  post ;  although,  from 
exertion  and  excitement,  his  wound  grew  daily  more  painful,  until  it  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  he  could  ascend  the  deck  of  his  ship.  At  length,  on  the  eighth 
of  April,  the  enemy,  assailed  in  front  by  the  flotilla  and  in  the  rear  by  the  troops 
under  General  Pope,  (who,  after  long  delay,  had  been  conveyed  across  the  Missis 
sippi  in  boats,)  surrendered  their  works,  and  the  flotilla  'was  at  liberty  to  proceed 
to  new  conquests.  But  so  debilitated  had  Flag-Officer  Foote  become  during  the 
interval,  that,  in  the  opinion  of  his  medical  advisers,  retirement  for  a  season  from 
active  service  could  alone  preserve  his  life.  Under  these  circumstances,  he  reluct 
antly  applied  to  the  Government  for  a  leave  of  absence,  and  early  in  May  turned 
over  his  command  to  Captain  Davis  in  an  appropriate  address  to  his  men,  in  which 
he  was  several  times  completely  overcome  by  emotion. 

His  return  to  his  home,  in  New-Haven,  was  one  continuous  ovation,  and  all 
along  the  route  enthusiastic  crowds  greeted  him  with  shouts  of  approval.  Public 
receptions,  which  he  invariably  declined,  were  tendered  to  him  in  almost  every 
city  through  which  he  passed.  "  I  should  be  as  able  to  renew  the  fight  with  my 
flotilla,"  he  wrote,  in  reply  to  the  invitation  of  a  committee  of  the  citizens  of 
Cleveland,  "  as  to  be  the  recipient  of  your  numerous  favors  ;  and  I  know  too  well 
the  intelligent  citizens  of  Cleveland  to  doubt  for  a  moment  that  they  would  deem 
this  my  paramount  duty."  A  few  weeks  of  rest  restored  him  to  health  ;  but  the 
opening  of  the  Mississippi,  which  he  had  so  brilliantly  commenced,  having  by 
that  time  been  so  nearly  accomplished  that  the  result  was  in  no  doubt,  he  was 
called  to  other  duties  of  not  less  importance,  and  on  the  nomination  of  the  Presi 
dent,  which  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  was  appointed  Chief  of  the  Bureau 
of  Equipment  and  Eecruiting,  under  the  new  organization  of  the  navy.  He  was 
also,  though  one  of  the  youngest  captains  in  point  of  rank  in  the  navy,  selected 
by  the  President — with  the  entire  approbation  of  the  people — as  one  of  the  seven 
rear-admirals  on  the  active  list  authorized  by  the  Act  of  Congress. 

As  his  health  became  more  firmly  reestablished,  the  duties  of  his  office  grew 
more  irksome  to  him,  and  he  desired  to  return  to  active  service.  In  May,  1863, 
his  wishes  in  this  regard  seemed  about  to  be  gratified.  A  change  was  decided 
upon  in  the  command  of  the  South- Atlantic  squadron,  on  which  was  to  devolve 
the  siege  of  Charleston,  and  the  eyes  of  the  Government,  as  well  as  of  the  nation, 
were  turned  at  once  upon  Admiral  Foote.  The  position  was  offered  to  him  and 
accepted,  and,  with  his  usual  promptness,  he  was  soon  on  his  way  to  New- York 
to  make  preparation  for  assuming  the  duties  of  his  new  command.  But  He  who 
had  been  his  hope  and  his  trust  in  all  the  past  had  determined  otherwise.  He  was 


64  ANDREW     HULL     FOOTS. 

to  be  called  to  a  higher  position,  to  a  more  glorious  office,  than  any  earthly  poten 
tate  could  confer  upon  him. 

He  had  but  just  arrived  in  New- York  and  taken  rooms  at  the  Astor  House 
when  he  was  attacked  by  the  disease  which,  after  two  or  three  weeks  of  suffering, 
terminated  nis  life;  So  severe  was  the  seizure  that  the  physicians  deemed  it  un 
wise  to  remove  him,  and  every  attention  which  Mr.  Stetson  could  bestow  was 
lavished  upon  the  dying  veteran.  His  family  gathered  around  him  to  minister  to 
him  in  his  sufferings,  and  pray  and  labor  for  his  recovery,  and  nothing  was  left 
undone  which  the  tenderest  affection  could  suggest.  But  the  time  for  his  depart 
ure  had  come,  and  no  one  was  more  sensible  of  the  approach  of  death  than  he,  who 
had  so  often  looked  it  in  the  face  in  the  day  of  battle.  And  what  a  spectacle  of 
heroic  faith  triumphing  over  the  last  enemy  did  he  present !  He  was  calm, 
thoroughly  self-possessed,  sent  messages  of  harmony  and  good-will  to  his  bro 
ther  officers,  and  especially  to  Admiral  Du  Pont,  whom  he  was  to  have  suc 
ceeded,  expressed  his  satisfaction  that  his  work  was  done,  that  he  had  not  now 
to  make  his  peace  with  God,  and  fell  asleep,  his  eyes  closing 

"  Calmly,   as  to  a  night's  repose, 
Like  flowers  at  set  of  sun." 

Within  a  year  previous  to  his  death  two  of  his  children  had  preceded  him  to 
the  Silent  Land,  and  his  wife,  who  had  watched  so  tenderly  over  his  dying  couch, 
survived  him  less  than  three  months. 

His  death  occurred  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  June,  1863,  and  his  body  lay  in 
state  for  two  days  at  the  Astor  House,  and  was  then  removed  to  New-Haven,  his 
family  residence,  where  his  funeral  was  attended  by  a  vast  concourse  of  the  most 
eminent  men  of  the  State  and  nation. 

Thus  much  for  the  public  services  of  Admiral  Foote.  In  the  peaceful  walks 
of  private  life  he  showed  the  same  strict  sense  of  duty,  the  same  energy  in  all 
good  works,  and  withal  a  modesty  characteristic  of  the  true  hero.  Frank  and  un 
assuming  in  his  manners,  he  was  noted  for  his  active  philanthropy,  his  unobtru 
sive  piety,  and  his  endeavors  to  elevate  the  moral  condition  of  his  race  ;  and  he 
repeatedly  vindicated  his  sincerity  in  addresses  at  the  religious  anniversaries  of 
our  large  cities.  His  religion  was  of  too  earnest  a  stamp  to  be  repressed  or  weak 
ened  by  ridicule,  and  on  more  than  one  occasion  he  publicly  showed  how  deeply 
it  was  ingrained  in  his  character.  The  often-repeated  anecdote  of  his  Sunday 
discourse  at  Cairo  is  one  which  history  delights  to  treasure,  and  is  too  characteris 
tic  of  the  man  to  be  omitted  here.  He  had  just  returned  from  the  capture  of 
Fort  Henry ;  and  in  the  fulfilment  of  a  duty,  with  which,  if  possible,  he  never 
permitted  any  circumstances  to  interfere,  he  attended  the  regular  services  at  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Cairo.  The  preacher,  for  some  reason,  was  absent,  and 


ANDREW     HULL     FOOTE.  65 

the  congregation  were  about  to  leave,  when  Flag-Officer  Foote  arose  and  ap 
proached  the  desk.  At  the  appearance  of  the  weather-beaten  veteran,  fresh  from 
his  recent  victory,  "  like  a  servant  of  the  Lord,  with  his  Bible  and  his  sword,"  the 
congregation  were  with  difficulty  restrained  from  breaking  into  applause.  He 
checked  them  with  a  look,  and,  the  first  murmur  of  surprise  having  subsided, 
offered  an  impressive  prayer,  to  which  he  added  an  extempore  sermon.  The  com 
mander  who,  emerging  from  the  smoke  and  roar  of  a  great  battle,  could  stand  be 
fore  the  people  in  the  character  of  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  will  be  acknowledged 
a  worthy  descendant  of  the  "men  who  fought  and  prayed"'  —the  founders  of  re 
ligious  and  political  liberty  in  New-England. 

The  orders  of  Admiral  Foote  upon  assuming  command  of  the  flotilla,  enjoin 
ing  a  rigid  observance  of  Sunday,  and  an  avoidance,  by  both  officers  and  men,  of 
profane  swearing  and  intemperance,  are  conceived  in  the  same  spirit  which 
prompted  his  action  on  the  above  occasion,  and  stamp  him  as  one  who  believed 
that  religion  and  morals  are  not  the  least  effective  agents  in  making  good  sailors. 
A  strict  disciplinarian,  he  gained,  to  an  unusual  degree,  the  attachment  and  con 
fidence  of  his  crews.  He  had  a  decided  taste  for  the  pure  and  healthful  enjoy 
ments  of  life,  and  what  he  coveted  for  himself  he  had  no  wish  to  withhold  from 
others.  He  always  felt  a  warm  sympathy  with  his  men  ;  he  would  listen  patiently 
to  their  complaints,  promptly  redress  their  grievances,  and  knew  how  to  put  up 
with  a  little  superfluous  jollity  on  the  part  of  the  youngsters.  Even  his  exertions 
to  stop  the  sailors'  grog  were  so  evidently  prompted  by  a  desire  for  their  welfare, 
that  the  old  salts  did  not  dislike  him  for  it.  While  on  the  Mississippi,  and  before 
the  order  allowing  a  commutation  of  the  allowance  of  grog,  he  was  accustomed  to 
punish  intoxication  on  the  part  of  the  sailors  in  a  way  which  evinced  at  the  same 
time  the  kindness  of  his  nature  and  his  tendency  to  a  sort  of-  dry  humor.  The 
drunken  sailor  was  on  no  account  to  be  deprived  of  his  gill  of  grog,  but  he  must 
take  it  mixed — in  a  gallon  of  water ! 

Among  the  popular  heroes  whom  the  war  has  produced  no  one  was  more 
honored  or  trusted ;  and  while  such  men  survive  in  active  duty,  the  early  fame  of 
the  American  navy  will  be  fully  sustained. 


FREDERICK  w.  LADDER. 

AT  a  moment  of  peculiar  peril,  tlie  nation  was  called  upon  to  lament  the 
death  of  one  of  her  bravest  chiefs.  In  the  midst  of  the  smoke  and  tumult 
of  battle,  she  paused  to  twine  the  cypress-leaf  with  the  laurel  she  had  given  him. 

Brigadier-General  FREDERICK  W.  LANDER  was  born  at  Salem,  Massachu 
setts,  in  the  year  1823.  Like  Putnam,  Stark,  and  Marion,  he  was  born  a  soldier : 
the  profession  of  arms  was  a  passion  with  him  from  his  youth,  and,  though  the 
graduate  of  no  military  academy,  he  will  be  remembered  among  the  very  ablest 
of  those  great-hearted  gentlemen  who  have  made  themselves  the  bulwark  of  the 
American  republic. 

General  Lander's  name  was  first  brought  prominently  before  the  American 
people  in  connection  with  the  exploration  for  a  wagon-road  to  the  Pacific,  several 
years  since.  By  referring  to  the  state  papers,  it  will  be  seen  how  admirably  he 
performed  his  arduous  labors.  His  official  report  to  the  department  proves  him 
to  have  possessed  fine  literary  as  well  as  scientific  attainments.  He  would  have 
been  a  poet  of  no  ordinary  power,  if  he  had  not  been  so  thoroughly  a  soldier. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  present  rebellion,  he  was  assigned  by  General 
McClellan,  then  in  Western  Virginia,  a  position  on  his  staff.  In  Lander's  cool 
daring  throughout  that  successful  campaign,  particularly  at  Philippa  and  Rich 
Mountain,  was  the  ring  of  the  true  metal.  The  people  listened  to  it  with  hope. 
Upon  General  McClellan's  appointment  to  the  command  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  General  Lander  accompanied  him,  and  proved  an  invaluable  auxiliary 
in  putting  fresh  strength  into  the  half-demoralized  and  dispirited  forces.  Shortly 
afterward,  the  government  dispatched  him  upon  secret  service ;  he  accomplished 
the  delicate  task  with  credit  to  his  own  discernment,  and  to  the  entire  satisfac 
tion  of  the  President. 

On  his  return  from  the  foreign  mission,  he  was  immediately  placed  in  com 
mand  of  a  brigade  in  General  Banks's  division ;  and  at  the  affair  at  Edwards's 
Ferry,  on  the  22d  of  October,  1861,  he  was  for  the  first  time  wounded,  receiving 
a  musket-ball  in  the  leg  while  gallantly  leading  his  men.  He  was  no  holiday 
hero.  He  shared  the  dangers  of  the  battle  with  his  humblest  private. 

The  wound  was  of  such  a  serious  nature,  that  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish 
his  command  for  several  weeks.  How  patiently  he  endured  the  mere  physical 


BRK'r.  I'.KX.  ]  ,,\.\ 


FREDERICK      W.      LANDER.  Q^ 

suffering,  and  how  lie  chafed  under  the  galling  necessity  that  kept  him  a  prisoner 
in  a  sick-room,  when  his  country  needed  him  so  much,  is  known  to  those  whose 
privilege  it  was  to  nurse  him  during  that  dark  period. 

In  person,  General  Lander  was  a  type  of  strength  and  masculine  beauty. 
Tall  of  stature,  with  a  countenance  that  indicated  the  possession  of  that  impartial 
integrity  and  nobleness  which  we  associate  with  the  ancient  Greek  character,  he 
was  warm  and  loyal  in  his  friendships,  but  cold  and  severe  to  every  shape  of 
wrong.  His  wild  frontier  experiences  had  given  him  something  of  the  impertur 
bability  of  an  Indian  warrior.  It  has  been  said  that  he  was  insensible  to  peril. 
lie  was  more  than  that.  No  eye  was  quicker  than  his  to  detect  danger,  but  he 
had  that  lofty  moral  courage  which  taught  him  to  scorn  it  judiciously.  His  men 
revered  and  loved  him.  The  corps  which  was  enlisted  in  his  native  city  formed 
his  body-guard,  and  followed  him  to  Western  Virginia  under  a  pledge  to  Mrs. 
Lander  that  they  would  never  leave  him  upon  the  field  of  battle.  In  case  of 
defeat,  this  devoted  band  had  sworn  to  die  with  him.  Some  four  years  since, 
General  Lander  was  married  to  Miss  J.  M.  Davenport,  the  distinguished  tragedi 
enne,  and  a  most  accomplished  lady. 

Before  General  Lander  had  fairly  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his  wound,  he 
again  took  the  field.  He  assumed  the  command  of  the  national  forces  at  Romney, 
Virginia.  A  movement  on  the  part  of  the  rebel  General  Jackson,  threatening  to 
outflank  his  troops,  rendered  it  expedient  for  him  to  evacuate  the  position.  It 
was  his  fate  to  give  us  but  one  more  instance  of  his  indomitable  energy  and 
valor.  Having  discovered  that  there  was  a  rebel  camp  at  Blooming  Gap,  he 
marched  his  four  thousand  men  a  distance  of  thirty-two  miles,  and  completelv 
surprised  the  enemy,  capturing  no  less  than  seventeen  commissioned  officers  and 
fifty  privates.  The  general,  with  one  of  his  aides-de-camp,  Lieutenant  Fitz-James 
O'Brien,  dashed  in  among  them,  and  demanded  their  surrender,  some  two  min 
utes  before  the  Union  lines  reached  the  spot.  The  secretary  of  war  complimented 
General  Lander  in  the  following  letter : 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  "WASHINGTON,  February  11th,  1862. 

"  The  President  directs  me  to  say  that  he  has  observed  with  pleasure  the 
activity  and  enterprise  manifested  by  yourself  and  the  officers  and  the  soldiers 
of  your  command.  You  have  shown  how  much  may  be  done  in  the  worst 
weather  and  worst  roads,  by  a  spirited  officer  at  the  head  of  a  small  force  of 
brave  men  unwilling  to  waste  life  in  camp  when  the  enemies  of  their  country 
are  within  reach. 

"  Your  brilliant  success  is  a  happy  presage  of  what  may  be  expected  when 
the  army  of  the  Potomac  shall  be  led  to  the  field  by  their  gallant  general. 

"  EDWIN  M.   ST ANTON,  /Secretary  of  War. 
"To  Brigadier-General  F.  "W.  LANDER." 


68  FREDERICK    W.    LANDER. 

The  knightly  exploit,  however,  was  not  without  •  its  price.  The  terrible 
march  irritated  the  wound,  which  had  never  ceased  to  be  painful,  and  brought 
on  a  complication  of  diseases.  At  Camp  Chase,  on  the  2d  of  March,  1862,  this 
gallant  spirit  passed 

"  To  where  beyond  these  voices  there  is  peace." 

He  was  buried  with  all  the  honors  that  a  sorrowful  and  grateful  nation  could 
bestow.  His  name  will  be  woven  forever  with  the  annals  of  the  land  he  loved. 
"History  will  preserve  the  record  of  his  life  and  character,  and  romance  will 
delight  in  portraying  a  figure  so  striking,  a  nature  so  noble,  and  a  career  so 
gallant."* 

Such  is  the  brief  story  of  a  man  whose  love  of  country  was  so  pure  and 
beautiful,  whose  heart  was  so  full  of  all  kindly  and  cliivalric  qualities,  that,  at 
firesides  where  he  had  never  been,  women  wept  for  him  as  if  he  were  their 
brother;  and  old  men  said  of  him,  as  though  he  were  their  son,  "LANDER  IS 
DEAD  !" 

*  General  McClellan,  in  Order  No.  86,  announcing  Lander's  death  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 

30 


^   /- 


JOHN    ELLIS    WOOL. 

JOHN  ELLIS  WOOL  was  born  at  Newburgh,  in  the  State  of  New- York,  in 
the  year  178$.  He  received,  in  early  life,  only  a  rudimentary  education,  and 
for  the  greater  part  of  his  youth  was  employed  as  clerk  in  a  store  in  the  city  of 
Troy.  Dissatisfied  with  this  condition  in  life,  he  began  the  study  of  law,  con 
tinued  it  for  one  year,  and  then  gave  it  up.  This  relinquishment  of  his  first  am 
bition  fell  just  in  that  period  when  the  country  began  to  prepare  for  the  war  that 
soon  ensued  with  Great  Britain,  and  when  Congress  stormily  debated  the  increase 
of  the  military  force.  Fired  with  a  patriotic  spirit,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  serve 
his  country,  Wool's  ambition  at  once  sought  a  more  extensive  sphere,  and,  upon 
the  enlargement  of  the  army,  he  obtained,  April  fourteenth,  1812,  a  captain's  com 
mission  in  the  Thirteenth  regiment  of  infantry.  He  soon  after  joined  the  army 
under  General  Van  Rensselaer,  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  and  there  passed  the  sum 
mer  of  1812  in  the  drill  and  discipline  of  his  men,  and  other  technical  duties  of 
his  rank. 

Captain  Wool's  command  was  part  of  the  force  in  the  expedition  against 
Queenstown,  and  in  the  brilliant  struggle  at  Queenstown  Heights,  the  young  offi 
cer  won  his  first  distinction.  After  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer  was  carried  from  the 
field,  and  previous  to  the  arrival  of  General  Van  Rensselaer,  the  command,  for  a 
time,  rested  with  and  was  held  conjointly  by  Captains  Wool  and  Ogilvie.  Wool 
received  a  severe  wound  in  this  fight,  and,  by  the  eventual  surrender,  became  a 
prisoner  of  war ;  but  his  gallantry  was  recognized,  and  he  was  promoted  to  be  a 
Major,  and  upon  his  exchange  assigned  to  the  Twenty-ninth  regiment  of  infantry, 
April  thirteenth,  1813.  Stationed  at  Plattsburgh,  he  participated  in  the  success 
ful  resistance  offered  at  that  point  to  the  British  army  under  Prevost,  and  again 
became  conspicuous  for  his  gallantry.  He  was  especially  efficient  in  harassing  the 
march  of  the  British  army,  and  in  the  various  minor  struggles  that  for  five  days 
preceded  the  principal  battle  on  the  Saranac.  For  his  gallant  conduct  in  the 
battle  of  the  eleventh  September  he  was  breveted  Lieutenant-Colonel. 

In  September,  1816,  he  was  appointed  Inspector-General  of  the  army,  with 
the  rank  of  Colonel ;  in  February,  1818,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  infantry ;  and  for 
"  ten  years  of  faithful  service  "  he  was  breveted  Brigadier-General,  April  twenty- 
ninth,  1826. 


70  JOHN     ELLIS     WOOL. 

In  1832  General  Wool  was  sent  to  Europe,  in  Government  commission,  to 
obtain  information  on  military  matters,  and,  in  the  discharge  of  that  duty,  tra 
velled  through  all  of  France  and  Belgium,  and  was  present  at  the  siege  and  bom 
bardment  of  Antwerp  by  the  French.  In  1836  he  assisted  in  the  removal  of  the 
Indians  from  the  Cherokee  country  to  Arkansas,  and  in  two  years  after  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  troops  posted  on  the  Maine  frontier.  He  was  appointed  a  Bri 
gadier-General  June  twenty-fifth,  1841. 

Brigadier-General  "Wool,  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  commanded  the  "  centre 
division  "  of  the  United  States  army,  organized  to  act  against  Chihuahua,  in  pur 
suance  of  the  primary  plan  of  the  United  States  Government  to  cut  off  from 
Mexico  its  more  northerly  provinces.  Though  thus  in  command  of  a  separate 
division,  General  Wool  was  subject  to  the  orders  of  General  Taylor.  Taylor, 
however,  only  named  the  point  of  destination,  and  left  all  beside  to  the  discretion 
of  Wool.  His  command  assembled  at  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  in  Texas,  and  com 
prised  three  thousand  men.  Washington's  battery  of  light  artillery  formed  part 
of  it.  General  Wool  began  his  march  September  twenty-sixth,  1846,  and  in 
eleven  days  reached  the  Rio  Grande,  near  to  San  Juan  Bautista,  better  known  as 
Presidio.  At  that  point  the  river  is  two  hundred  and  seventy  yards  wide,  and  has 
an  exceedingly  rapid  current ;  but  a  flying  bridge,  brought  with  the  army,  was 
thrown  across,  and  the  whole  command,  and  an  immense  train  of  stores,  were 
safely  landed  on  the  opposite  shore  by  the  night  of  October  eleventh.  Thus 
within  the  Mexican  territory,  General  Wool  published  an  order,  in  which  he  stated 
that  the  army  of  the  United  States  would  act  only  against  the  Mexican  govern 
ment  ;  that  all  who  did  not  take  up  arms,  but  remained  peaceably  in  their  homes, 
would  not  be  molested  either  in  their  persons  or  property ;  and  that  all  who  fur 
nished  supplies  would  be  treated  kindly,  and  paid  for  whatever  was  taken.  From 
Presidio  the  division  marched  by  San  Juan  de  Nava,  San  Fernando  de  Rosas,  and 
Santa  Rosa  to  Monclova.  The  authorities  of  the  latter  place  protested  against  Gen 
eral  Wool's  advance  upon  it,  and  on  November  third  he  entered  with  the  army, 
and  took  formal  possession  of  the  town.  Orders  were  here  received  from  General 
Taylor  for  the  "  centre  division "  to  remain  at  Monclova  until  the  end  of  the 
armistice,  and  it  consequently  rested  twenty-seven  days.  Meantime  the  troops 
were  incessantly  drilled,  and  stores  were  collected  for  the  establishment  of  a  depot. 
Two  hundred  and  fifty  men  were  detached  to  guard  the  depot,  and  on  the  twenty- 
fourth  November  the  division  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Parras,  one  hundred 
and  eighty  miles  distant.  At  Parras  it  was  intended  to  take  the  great  road  from 
Saltillo  to  Chihuahua,  but,  upon  its  arrival  there,  the  division  was  held  to  coope 
rate,  if  necessary,  with  General  Taylor,  then  threatened  by  Santa  Anna,  and 
weakened  by  the  withdrawal  of  troops  for  Scott's  line  of  operations.  While  the 
"  centre  division  "  still  remained  at  Parras,  General  Taylor  learned  of  an  intention 


JOHN    ELLIS    WOOL.  Yl 

upon  the  part  of  the  Mexicans  to  surprise  Saltillo,  and  massacre  the  small  body 
of  American  troops  stationed  there,  and  immediately  sent  word  with  marching 
orders  to  General  Wool,  and  also  to  General  Butler  at  Monterey.  "  Wool,  who 
had  been  marching  from  Port'Lavoca  to  Parras  in  search  of  a  battle,"  says  Kipley, 
in  his  History  of  the  War,  "  and  who,  in  his  desire  of  adventure  and  fame,  had 
only  wished  to  abandon  the  Chihuahua  expedition  in  order  to  penetrate,  with  his 
single  corps,  still  further  south  in  the  direction  of  Durango  and  Zacatecas,  hailed 
the  news  as  the  harbinger  of  glory  to  be  acquired.  He  at  once  broke  up  his  camp 
at  Parras,  and  marched  with  the  greatest  celerity  toward  Saltillo,  pushing  his 
artillery  and  cavalry  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles  a  day."  General  Butler  also  hur 
ried  forward ;  and  General  Taylor  marched  upon  Saltillo  with  Twiggs's  division ; 
and  the  Mexicans  consequently  made  no  attack.  From  this  time,  however,  the 
"centre  division"  was  merged  into  the  "army  of  occupation,"  and  joined  General 
Taylor's  command  at  Agua  Nueva,  December  twenty-first ;  and  from  that  time 
until  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  was  fought,  the  whole  American  camp,  and  the 
instruction  and  discipline  of  the  soldiers,  were  placed  under  General  Wool's  com 
mand  and  direction. 

Upon  the  second  day  after  Wool's  arrival  at  Agua  Nueva,  an  incident  oc 
curred  to  which  the  subsequent  battle  gave  importance.  Accompanied  by  seve 
ral  gentlemen  of  his  command,  and  his  Aid-de-Camp,  Lieutenant  Irwin  McDowell, 
he  rode  from  his  camp  at  Agua  Nueva,  December  twenty-second,  to  visit  Generals 
Butler  and  Worth  at  Saltillo,  and  upon  his  return  next  day,  and  while  in  the  pass 
or  narrows  near  the  Hacienda  of  Buena  Vista,  he  said :  "  This  is  the  very  spot  of 
all  others  I  have  yet  seen  in  Mexico  which  I  should  select  for  battle,  were  I  ob 
liged  with  a  small  army  to  fight  a  large  one."  He  then  described  the  various  ad 
vantages  of  the  position,  and  rode  on.  General  Taylor  at  this  time  intended,  if 
attacked,  to  fight  at  Agua  Nueva,  and  General  Butler  opposed  the  wish  of  Gene 
ral  Wool  to  form  his  encampment  near  to  Buena  Vista,  and  even  compelled  the 
removal  of  the  camp  after  it  was  formed  there.  General  Taylor,  however,  upon 
examination,  agreed  with  General  Wool  as  to  the  advantages  of  the  position  at 
Buena  Vista,  and  when  it  became  certain  that  Santa  Anna  would  attack  with  a 
large  army,  determined  to  meet  him  there.  General  Wool  has  thus  the  honor  to 
have  chosen  the  field  upon  which  the  American  army  was  enabled  to  struggle  so 
gloriously  and  victoriously. 

General  Taylor  was  at  Saltillo  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-second,  and 
the  command  of  the  army  fell  upon  General  Wool,  as  next  in  rank.  He 
accordingly  ordered  the  advance  from  camp  to  the  field,  and  disposed  the  army 
in  its  first  order  of  battle.  Previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  fight,  how 
ever,  General  Taylor  arrived,  and  General  Wool  again  took  the  command  of 
his  own  division.  But  on  the  night  of  the  twenty-second,  by  Taylor's  return 


72  JOHN      ELLIS    WOOL. 

to  Saltillo,  General  Wool  was  again  left  in  command  of  the  army,  and  retained 
the  command  for  a  part  of  the  next  day,  when  the  battle  was  fought.  Of 
the  small  army  in  the  field  on  the  twenty-second,  General  Taylor  took  with 
him  to  Saltillo  a  squadron  of  dragoons  and  Colenel  Davis's  regiment  of  Mis 
sissippi  riflemen.  General  Wool  was  thus  left  with  four  thousand  two  hundred 
men ;  and  with  this  small  force  he  held  Santa  Anna's  army  of  twenty  thou 
sand  in  check  until  General  Taylor  came  up  and  assumed  the  command.  For 
"gallant  and  meritorious  conduct"  in  this  battle,  General  Wool  received  the 
brevet  of  major-general  in  May,  1848. 

Upon  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war,  General  Wool  was  assigned  to  the 
command  in  the  Eastern  Military  Department  of  the  United  States,  and  this 
position  he  held  until  some  time  alter  the  present  war  broke  out.  Previous 
to  the  recent  creation  of  several  new  departments,  his  command  embraced  the 
States  of  South- Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  and  Mississippi. 

When  the  treasonable  agitation  began  in  South-Carolina,  General  Wool 
urged  strongly  the  support  of  Major  Anderson,  in  Fort  Sumter,  and  as  early 
as  December,  1860,  declared  that  the  surrender  of  that  post  would  put  two 
hundred  thousand  men  in  arms  in  defence  of  the  Union.  During  the  same 
month  he  wrote :  "  Before  South-Carolina  can  get  out  of  the  jurisdiction  or 
control  of  the  United  States,  a  reconstruction  of  the  Constitution  must  be  had, 
or  civil  war  ensue."  .  .  .  He  also  declared  himself  as  "  now  and  forever 
in  favor  of  the  Union,  its  preservation,  and  the  rigid  maintenance  of  the  rights 
and  interests  of  the  States,  individually  as  well  as  collectively,"  and  in  a  letter 
to  General  Cass  he  expressed  the  desire  that  "the  President  would  command 
his  services"  if  he  could  be  of  any  aid. 

Immediately  after  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter,  one  of  those  great  Union 
demonstrations  that  were  made  all  over  the  country  was  made  at  Troy,  1ST.  Y., 
and  a  great  concourse  of  citizens  adjourned  from  their  place  of  meeting  to  the 
house  of  General  Wool,  who  there  addressed  them,  and  in  the  course  of  his 
remarks  used  these  words :  "I  have  fought  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes  that 
were  carried  in  triumph  by  Washington,  and  under  which  Jackson  closed  the 
second  war  for  independence  at  New-Orleans  in  a  halo  of  glory.  Will  you 
permit  that  flag  to  be  desecrated  and  trampled  in  the  dust  by  traitors  now? 
Will  you  permit  our  noble  Government  to  be  destroyed  by  rebels,  in  order 
that  they  may  advance  their  schemes  of  political  ambition,  and  extend  the 
area  of  slavery?  No,  indeed,  it  cannot  be  done.  The  spirit  of  the  age  for 
bids  it.  Humanity  and  manhood,  and  the  sentiments  of  the  civilized  world 
forbid  it.  My  friends,  that  flag  must  be  lifted  up  from  the  dust  into  which 
it  has  been  trampled,  placed  in  its  proper  position,  and  again  set  floating  in 


JO  UN     ELLIS    WOOL.  73 

triumph  to  tlie  breeze.  I  pledge  you  my  heart,  iny  hand,  all  my  energies,  to 
the  cause." 

Yet  despite  this  known  devotion  to  the  cause,  and  the  General's  great  expe 
rience  and  capacity  as  an  officer,  he  was,  at  a  time  when  the  country's  great 
est  need  was  experienced  and  able  officers,  kept  for  several  months,  through 
some  unaccountable  cause  at  the  War  Department,  in  virtual  retirement  at 
Troy,  and  assured  that  it  was  done  "  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,"  though 
he  publicly  declared  that  his  health  had  never  been  better. 

Great  dissatisfaction  with  the  course  of  the  Government  in  this  matter 
was  publicly  expressed  through  the  newspapers  and  otherwise,  and  at  length, 
August  twelfth,  1861,  the  veteran  received  from  the  War  Department  the 
order  to  proceed  to  Fortress  Monroe  and  take  command  of  the  forces  there. 
On  his  way  thither  he  arrived  in  New- York,  August  fifteenth,  and  that  night 
was  serenaded  at  his  hotel.  In  response  to  the  calls  of  the  assembled  multi 
tude,  he  appeared  upon  the  balcony  and  spoke  as  follows : 

"  FELLOW-CITIZENS  :  I  thank  you  for  this  unexpected  honor.  Nothing 
is  more  gratifying  to  a  soldier's  feelings  than  the  good  opinion  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.  I  do  not,  however,  regard  it  merely  as  a  compliment  personal  to 
myself,  but  on  behalf  of  my  country,  my  bleeding  country,  which  is  now  con 
tending  for  the  most  precious  of  rights.  But  yesterday  we  were  a  great  peo 
ple,  commanding  the  admiration  of  the  world,  with  an  empire  extending  from 
the  frozen  regions  of  the  north  to  the  tropical  regions  of  the  south,  and  with 
a  population  of  more  than  thirty-one  millions,  enjoying  a  prosperity  unparalleled 
in  the  history  of  nations.  Every  city  and  hamlet  was  growing  rich,  and  none 
so  much  so  as  those  at  the  South.  But  this  is  not  so  to-day.  And  for  what 
reason  ?  For  nothing  under  God's  heavens  but  because  the  South  wants  to 
extend  the  area  of  slavery.  Nothing  else  but  that.  The  only  question  with 
you  is,  whether  you  will  support  free  speech,  free  government,  free  suffrage, 
or  extend  the  area  of  slavery.  This  was  the  happiest  country  on  the  face  of 
the  globe  a  few  months  since,  with  a  Government  more  kind  than  any  other 
in  existence,  where  man  could  walk  abroad  in  his  own  majesty,  and  none  to 
make  him  afraid.  Never  sacrifice  that  Government,  but  maintain  it  to  the 
last.  I  thank  you,  gentlemen,  for  the  honor  you  have  done  me." 

After  several  patriotic  airs  were  given,  another  pause  was  made  in  the 
music,  cries  were  renewed  for  the  appearance  of  General  Wool,  and  he  came 
forward  and  said : 

"  Gentlemen,  a  few  words  more ;  though  I  am  too  hoarse  to  speak,  I  have 
only  to  say  to  you,  let  us  have  liberty  and  union,  the  whole  Union,  and 
nothing  but  the  Union  now  and  forever.  Good  night." 


74  JOHN    ELLIS    WOOL. 

General  Wool  reached  Fortress  Monroe  two  days  later,  and  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  army  assembled  there.  The  force  was  mostly  made  up  of  volun 
teers,  and  had  since  the  \var  began  been  under  the  command  of  Major-General 
Butler.  General  Wool  immediately  began  the  institution  of  a  more  perfect 
and  thorough  discipline,  and  by  holding  every  colonel  and  line  officer  respon 
sible  not  only  for  the  good  conduct  but  for  the  efficiency  of  their  respective 
commands ;  by  exacting  specific  reports  from  them  of  every  thing ;  by  insist 
ing  upon  their  being  personally  acquainted  with  the  facts  they  state ;  and  by 
the  infusion  of  good  activity  into  every  branch  of  the  service,  he  is  rapidly 
fitting  the  men  of  his  command  for  any  emergency. 


BRIG.  GEN.  J.W.  SILL. 


JOSHUA    WOODKOW     SILL. 

IN  1637,  there  came  from  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  John  Sill  and  his  wife  Jo 
anna.  They  settled  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts.  Their  children,  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth,  born  in  England,  married  and  died  in  this  country,  leaving  to  their 
posterity  honored  and  well-loved  names.  Joseph,  the  eldest  son,  distinguished 
himself  in  the  Indian  war  of  1676.  History  tells  us  he  was  feared  by  King  Philip 
and  his  Wampanoags ;  his  musket  rarely  missed  its  aim,  while  his  daring  and 
courage  won  for  him  the  confidence  of  his  superior  officers.  At  the  close  of  the 
war,  Captain  Sill  removed  from  Cambridge  to  Lyme,  Connecticut.  In  1677  he 
married  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Sarah  Marvin,  of  Lyme.  From  their  youngest  son, 
Zechariah,  born  in  1682,  Joshua  "Woodrow  Sill  was  a  direct  descendant. 

"  Captain  Joseph,"  of  Indian  warfare  renown,  was  not  the  only  member  of 
the  Sill  family  who  distinguished  himself  as  a  soldier.  His  grandson,  Zechariah 
Sill,  was  with  the  American  army  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  and  assisted  in  erect 
ing  the  fortifications  on  Dorchester  Heights  during  the  memorable  night  of  the 
fourth  of  March,  1776.  Zechariah  Sill's  nephew,  Joseph,  son  of  the  Eev.  Eichard 
Sill,  of  West-Granville,  New- York,  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
He  was  born  in  "West-Granville,  and  there  prepared  for  college.  He  graduated  at 
Middlebury,  Vermont,  in  1809,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but  afterward 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  entered  the  law-office  of  Spencer  and  John  Sargeant,  and 
was  there  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1814.  This  same  ye#r  he  removed  to  Chilli- 
cothe,  Ohio,  where  he  settled  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  since  re 
sided.  He  has  represented  his  district  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  held,  for  seve 
ral  years,  the  office  of  District  Attorney  for  the  counties  of  Eoss,  Jackson,  and 
Pike.  Although  fast  verging  on  the  limits  of  fourscore,  he  still  possessed  a  strong 
mind,  and  an  earnest,  invincible  determination  never  to  sacrifice  those  principles 
of  our  Government  which  were  connate  with  his  New-England  descent.  In  1824 
he  married  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Woodrow,  daughter  of  Joshua  Woodrow,  a 
Quaker,  of  Hillsboro,  Highland  County,  Ohio. 

Mrs.  Sill  was  an  uncommon  woman.  Child  of  the  first  generation  of  the  pio 
neer's  descendants,  she  had  what  was  in  those  days  a  remarkable  love  for,  and  ac 
quaintance  with  the  English  literature  of  the  past  century.  The  graces  of  her  life 
were  not  the  mere  external  accomplishments  which  pass  for  so  much  in  our  time, 


76  JOSHUA     WOODROW     SILL. 

but  the  more  real  and  substantial  elements  of  a  Christian  character,  which  sought 
and  loved  what  was  good,  true,  and  beautiful.  She  possessed  great  personal 
beauty.  Her  eyes  were  of  that  lustrous  brown  which  gaze  forth  from  those  em 
bodiments  of  purity  and  meekness,  the  Madonnas  of  Eaphael.  She  was  indeed 

"  No  angel,  but  a  dearer  being,  all  dipped 
In  angel-instincts,  breathing  Paradise, 
Interpreter  between  gods  and  men, 
Who  looked  all  native  to  her  place,  and  yet, 
On  tiptoe,  seemed  to  touch  upon  a  sphere 

Too  gross  to  tread 

Happy  he 

With  such  a  mother  !  faith  in  womankind 
Beats  with  his  blood,  and  trust  in  all  things  high 
Comes  easy  to  him  ;  and  though  he  trip  and  fall, 
He  shall  not  blind  his  soul  with  clay." 

Her  fourth  child,  and  second  son,  Joshua  Woodrow,  was  born  December  sixth, 
1831.  As  a  boy  he  was  remarkable  for  his  dutiful,  filial  deportment,  and  this, 
united  with  his  childlike  love  for  those  at  home,  formed  one  of  the  chief  attractions 
of  his  mature  years.  Serious,  thoughtful,  and  retiring,  he  passed  his  boyhood  in 
devotion  to  study  under  the  guidance  of  his  father  and  other  competent  teachers, 
and  long  before  the  years  of  manhood,  had  mastered  many  of  the  more  abstruse 
branches  of  science,  and  gained  an  unusual  knowledge  of  the  classics  and  English 
literature.  The  purity  and  elevation  of  his  tastes,  his  innate  refinement  and  deli 
cacy  of  character,  protected  him  from  ill  associations. 

In  1849  he  was  appointed  a  United  States  cadet  from  the  Chillicothe  Con 
gressional  District.  A  letter  from  an  army  officer  in  1850,  to  .the  representative 
from  Eoss  County,  contains  the  following:  "I  have  called  upon  Cadet  Sill.  I 
find  him  a  very  promising  young  man.  He  has  just  passed  a  very  fine  examina 
tion,  and  I  have  no  doubt  will  be  head  of  his  class  in  French  and  English  studies, 
and  very  near  head  in  mathematics,  near  enough  to  make  him  head  in  general 
merit.  You  may  well  be  proud  of  having  such  a  good  representative  from  your 
district." 

From  his  entrance  at  the  Military  Academy  to  his  graduation  Sill  ranked 
among  the  first  scholars  of  his  class.  Eigid  observance  of  the  requirements  of  his 
studies,  and  natural  reserve  of  disposition,  while  it  protected  him  from  the  vices, 
deprived  him  of  the  advantages  of  general  association  with  other  cadets.  But  the 
friends  he  had  "  he  grappled  to  his  soul  with  hooks  of  steel."  There  was  nothing 
of  adventure  in  his  cadetship.  Some  little  difficulty  threatened  him  at  one  time, 
(about  his  third  year,)  by  reason  of  his  refusal  to  testify  against  a  room-mate,  but 
it  soon  passed  over,  as  such  collegiate  freaks  of  honor  should.  All  of  his  associ- 


JOSHUA     WOODROW      SILL.  TV 

ates  and  classmates,  among  them  Generals  McPherson,  Schofield,  Eobinson,  Sheri 
dan,  Tyler,  Terrill,  and  Plummer,  affectionately  and  proudly  allude  to  his  studious 
and  successful  devotion  to  every  duty. 

In  the  summer  of  1853  he  graduated.  Chosen  for  an  ordnance  appointment, 
he  was  stationed  at  Watervliet  Arsenal,  West-Troy.  Here  he  passed  a  quiet, 
studious  life.  His  unobtrusive  modesty,  his  strict  obeyance  of  orders,  his  digni 
fied  gentleness  to  those  beneath  him,  his  cordiality  and  refined  courtesy  to  those 
friends  who  were  permitted  to  mess  with  the  officers,  won  for  him  the  lasting  af 
fection  of  all. 

In  July,  1855,  he  was  ordered  to  West-Point  as  one  of  the  instructors.  Two 
years,  not  pleasant  ones,  passed.  The  department  intrusted  to  him  exacted  all 
his  time,  but  did  not  sufficiently  interest  him  or  satisfy  his  desire  for  progress  in 
scientific  attainment.  He  was  thence  ordered  to  Pittsburgh  Arsenal,  where,  for  a 
short  time,  awaiting  orders,  he  occupied  himself  with  testing  and  drafting  for 
ordnance. 

May  fifth,  1858,  he  sailed  for  Washington  Territory,  to  superintend  the  es 
tablishment  of  an  arsenal  there.  His  letters  during  the  journey  contain  much 
penetrating  observation,  accurate  yet  comprehensive,  betraying  itself  in  slight  de 
scriptions  of  the  voyage,  the  cities,  harbors,  people,  products,  and,  indeed,  what 
ever  came  within  range,  of  his  passing  glance.  At  San  Francisco  he  examined 
and  reported  upon  the  public  works. 

In  June,  1858,  he  arrived  at  Vancouver,  Washington  Territory,  and  began 
careful  and  laborious  investigations,  preliminary  to  the  establishment  of  the  arse 
nal,  but  the  Vancouver  Island  imbroglio  with  the  British  authorities  suspended 
and  finally  prevented  its  construction.  Sill,  however,  at  General  Harney's  request, 
served  upon  his  staff.  Before  leaving  Vancouver,  some  difficulty  occurred  be 
tween  the  General  and  Lieutenant  Sill.  It  was  purely  one  of  etiquette,  and  in  no 
wise  involved  the  public  interest  or  Sill's  good  name.  He  was  court-martialed 
for  writing  a  letter  to  Harney's  Adjutant,  but  honorably  acquitted.  The  verdict 
contained  a  few  words  apparently  to  excuse  the  preferment  of  the  charge,  and 
upon  this  pretext  the  Secretary  of  War,  Floyd,  in  his  order  confirming  the  ac 
quittal,  read  Sill  a  lecture  which  surprised  no  one  more  than  the  officers  who  had 
unconsciously  given  him  the  text  for  it. 

Sill  always  treated  his  trial  with  the  utmost  reticence  and  indifference.  He 
never  spoke  or  seemed  to  think  unpleasantly  of  General  Harney,  whose  treatment 
to  him  after  the  affair  continued  to  be  kindly  and  courteous.  The  publicity  given 
to  the  matter  by  Floyd,  and  the  unjust  constructions  proclaimed  by  him,  gave 
some  annoyance,  but  the  noble  heart  of  Sill  cherished  no  feeling  of  animosity 
even  toward  Floyd,  .who  thus  shabbily  wielded  his  great  office  to  wound  the  repu 
tation  of  a  young  lieutenant.  As  to  Floyd  —  God  has  proven  Sill  and  him  by 


78  JOSHUA     WOODROW     SILL. 

unerring  tests.  The  eternal  record  of  the  one  is  —  hero  and  true  man :  of  the 
other  —  false  traitor. 

In  September,  1859,  Sill  returned  East,  and  was  again  stationed  at  Water- 
vliet,  but  in  the  following  June  he  was  ordered  to  Fort  Leavenworth.  It  was 
here  that  his  long-cherished  purpose  of  leaving  the  army  for  a  freer  and  more 
active  career  took  effect.  His  discontent  with  army  life  arose  chiefly  from  repug 
nance  to  the  selfish  crowding  for  promotion,  and  unnecessary  self-reproach  that  he 
was  a  comparatively  idle  incumbent  upon  the  National  Treasury.  Early  in  1860 
he  gave  notice  of  resignation,  and  received  the  usual  six  months'  furlough.  A 
letter  to  a  friend  at  the  time  -shows  how  distasteful  military  life  had  become,  and 
yet  how  conscientious  he  was  in  his  desire  to  enter  upon  more  congenial  duties. 
"  My  dissatisfaction  with  army  life  has  been  growing  so  rapidly,  that  after  waiting 
in  vain  to  secure  a  more  congenial  situation,  I  have  at  last  determined  to  resign, 
regardless  of  consequences.  Accordingly,  I  applied  some  time  since  for  a  six 
months'  leave  of  absence,  which  has  been  granted.  .  .  .  Your  kind  offer  at 
this  conjuncture  has  given  me  more  anxious  thought  than  any  previous  election 
of  a  locality  and  a  vocation.  The  truth  is,  I  hardly  dare  regard  myself  as  adapted 
by  force  of  talent,  or  by  long-cherished  tastes  for  other  pursuits,  *  to  fill  the  Pro 
fessorship  of  Mathematics.  I  do  not  say  this  from  any  impulse  of  false  modesty, 
or  that  other  subtle  species  of  vanity  which  consists  in  self-depreciation — I  speak 
candidly,  having  in  view  the  innumerable  trials  and  mortifications  of  a  man  who 
should  recklessly  stick  himself  in  the  wrong  place." 

This  Professorship  he  finally  accepted,  and  in  September,  1860,  went  to 
Brooklyn  as  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Civil  Engineering  in  the  Brooklyn 
Collegiate  and  Polytechnic  Institute.  With  how  much  ability  and  skill  he  filled 
that  chair  let  the  "resolutions"  of  the  faculty,  instructors,  and  students  of  that 
Institute,  adopted  by  them,  testify,  f  Up  to  December,  1860,  he  seems  to  have 

*  He  probably  referred  to  Astronomy,  Chemistry,  or  Geology.  In  all  three  of  these  he  was 
more  than  proficient. 

t  "  Whereas,  The  mournful  intelligence  has  reached  us  of  the  death  of  Brigadier-General  Joshua 
W.  Sill,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Civil  Engineering  in  this  Institute,  who,  on  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Southern  rebellion,  relinquished  his  chair  (temporarily,  as  we  trusted)  to  enter  the 
military  service  of  his  country,  and  fell  at  the  head  of  his  division  while  gallantly  leading  it  into 
battle  at  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  on  Wednesday,  December  thirty -first,  18G2  ;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  Professor  Sill  was  one  whose  conspicuous  virtues  and  refined  manners,  com 
bined  with  ripe  erudition  and  quiet  energy,  fitted  him  equally  to  adorn  the  walks  of  civil  and 
military  life  ;  that  our  association  with  him  has  given  him  a  large  and  lasting  place  in  our  esteem, 
and  that  we  mourn  his  loss,  not  merely  as  an  efficient  co-laborer  and  an  accomplished  instructor, 
but  as  a  brother  and  a  friend. 

"Resolved,  That  as  we  review  the  record  of  his  brief  military  life,  a  life  of  unremitting  toil, 
welcome  hardships,  unwavering  devotion  to  duty,  wounded  at  last  by  the  eager  immolation  of  self 


JOSHUA      WOODROW      SILL.  79 

thoroughly  enjoyed  his  new  life,  but  the  threatening  aspect  of  affairs  now  greatly 
disturbed  and  engrossed  him.  As  the  time  for  his  resignation  to  take  effect  ap 
proached,  the  grave  question,  whether  or  not  to  retract  it,  was  to  be  decided.  Upon 
the  one  hand,  it  seemed  quite  possible  that  the  country  would  require  the  services 
of  all  her  educated  soldiers.  On  the  other,  this  necessity  was  but  a  contingent  and 
doubtful  one.  Many  of  the  shrewdest  statesmen  believed  that  the  storm  would 
pass  —  the  peril  be  averted.  Sill's  apprehensions  were  alive  and  awake.  But  if 
he  withdrew  his  resignation  and  the  cause  of  the  withdrawal  disappeared,  he  broke 
up  his  new  plans  needlessly  and  unfortunately.  His  anxious  consideration  of  the 
dilemma  was  at  last  ended  by  the  advice  of  reliable  and  experienced  military 
friends.  He  perfected  the  resignation,  and  wrote  to  the  Chief  of  the  Department, 
pledging  his  services  whensoever  and  howsoever  they  might  be  useful.  That  this 
was  no  idle  pledge,  no  hollow  parade  of  patriotic  intents,  was  testified  by  the  sub 
sequent  fulfilment. 

It  is  a  somewhat  singular  commentary  upon  the  confusion  and  wild  suspicion 
which  ruled  the  hour,  that  in  the  newspaper  announcement  of  his  resignation, 
Sill,  every  fibre  of  whose  heart  was  devotedly  loyal,  was  confounded  with  the 
secessionists.  One  morning,  in  the  New- York  Times,  his  name  appeared  at  the 
head  of  a  column  of  disloyal  resignations.  The  mistake  was  at  once  corrected  by 
friends,  but  Sill's  dislike  of  publicity  was  so  intense,  that  while  thanking  them  for 
the  kindness,  he  regretted  the  publication. 

He  remained  at  the  Polytechnic  until  May,  1861.  The  condition  of  the 
country  and  his  relations  and  duties  to  it  were  the  subject  of  frequent  considera 
tion,  yet  never  from  him  was  heard  one  word  of  personal  ambition,  but  on  the 
contrary  an  extreme  repugnance,  so  far  as  he  was  personally  concerned,  to  enter 
upon  the  race  for  distinction  and  power  which  the  tumult  of  the  times  inaugurated. 
From  the  beginning,  he  never  wavered  in  his  resolution  to  devote  himself  to  the 
cause  ;  the  only  question  was  "  when  ?"  and  "  how  ?" 

The  day  the  Seventh  regiment  left  New- York  for  Washington  Professor  Sill 
dined  with  a  few  friends.  He  was  rather  silent  but  pale  with  suppressed  excite 
ment,  his  eye  lit  with  a  fire  never  seen  there  before.  The  little  he  said  was  char 
acterized  by  an  excessive  degree  of  moderation.  He  was  so  possessed  by  an  over 
mastering  but  just  anger  that  he  scarcely  trusted  himself  to  speak.  It  needed  no 

on  the  altar  of  country,  we  find  but  a  firmer  ground  for  faith  in  the  ultimate  triumph  of  the  sacred 
cause  of  the  Union,  and  a  fresh  stimulus  to  zeal  in  serving  those  ends  at  which  our  beloved  asso 
ciate  never  ceased  to  aim,  '  our  Country's,  God's,  and  Truth's.' 

"Resolved,  That  we  wear  in  his  honor  the  usual  badge — a  crape  upon  the  left  arm — for  thirty 
days,  and  that  we  will  inscribe  upon  the  walls  of  this  Institute  some  more  enduring  memorial  of 
his  virtues,  which  may  inspire  with  grateful  regard,  and  incite  to  noble  emulation,  the  youth  of 
future  generations."  ...... 


80  JOSHUA     WOODROW      SILL. 

spirit  of  prophecy  to  foretell  that  his  sword  would  not  long  lie  idle.  His  friends 
expended  their  power  of  persuasion  to  induce  him  to  seek  high  command,  and  to 
volunteer  from  the  great  and  liberal  State  of  New- York ;  but  he  regarded  the  ties 
of  nativity  more  than  the  hopes  of  personal  aggrandizement  and  shrank  from  un 
dertaking  the  responsibilities  of  more  than  a  subordinate  position.  He  resigned 
his  Professorship,  and  wrote  to  Ohio,  asking  for  a  place  in  her  organization.  Un 
til  the  reply  came,  he  occupied  himself  with  the  discipline  of  the  "  Phalanx,"  a 
regiment  organized  under  the  auspices  of  the  Eev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher. 

Before  leaving  Brooklyn  an  unexpected  pleasure  awaited  him.  His  students 
presented  to  him  a  sword,  sash,  and  belt.  His  reply  to  Doctor  Eaymond  was  a 
most  striking  contrast  to  the  noisy  satisfaction,  or  extravagant/  humility,  which 
too  often  characterize  such  receptions.  Its  tone  is  that  of  unalloyed  patriotism, 
the  utterance  of  a  calm,  steadfast,  unselfish  soul  unchangeably  committed  to  the 
cause  of  GOD  and  the  RIGHT.  He  reentered  the  service  purely  as  a  matter  of 
duty,  upon  no  mere  impulse,  with  no  merely  personal  ambition  —  after  long  and 
deliberate  consideration  of  his  power  to  serve  the  country,  and  not  for  a  moment 
of  the  opportunity  to  serve  himself.  This  purpose,  conscientiously,  unselfishly 
formed,  was  thenceforward  his  sole  guide — even  unto  death. 

On  arriving  at  Columbus  he  was  made  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  with  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel,  under  the  State  Act.     In  his  interview  with  the  Gov 
ernor  he  objected,  that  this  position  might  keep  him  from  the  field,  but  being 
assured  that  he  would  be  assigned  to  duty  on  McClellan's  staff,  he  consented  to 
accept  the  temporary  appointment.     He  was  therefore  introduced  to  the  Senate, 
and  installed  in  his  new  office  with  honor.     But  tape  and  stationery  was  not  the 
battle-field,  for  which  he  felt  he  had  offered  his  life.     Writing  to  a  friend  at  this 
time,  he  says  :  "  If  I  was  somewhat  younger  I  should  murmur  '  loud  and  deep,' 
but  how  soon  does  it  not  become  apparent  to  us  that  the  great  lab}rrinthian  web 
of  circumstance  has  surrounded  us  with  its  intricate  convolutions,  and  that  the 
true  philosophy  is  to  be  meek  and  confiding.     .     .     .     How  often  do  I  feel 
grieved  and  pained  by  rude  contacts  and  uncongenial  associations,  the  fruits  of 
our  disorder  and  confusion  of  this  time !     What  this  friction  means,  what  it  is  to 
make  me,  or  how  to  touch  others,  who  can  say  or  guess  ?     Come  fame  or  dis 
grace,  come  humiliation  and  the  loss  of  the  affections  which  the  heart  lives  upon, 
it  is  all  beyond  our  ken  or  control,  though  there  is  a  magnificent  Beneficence  to 
reveal  itself  hereafter." 

While  at  Camp  Denison,  issuing  arms  to  the  Ohio  forces,  he  had  many  offers 
of  promotion.  One  from  General  Cox,  giving  him  the  first  place  on  his  staff. 
This  he  desired  to  accept,  and  telegraphed  McClellan  to  this  effect,  but  McClellan 
answered  at  once,  desiring  him  not  to  make  the  arrangement,  saying  also :  "  I 
need  you  myself."  McClellan's  almost  immediate  promotion  to  the  regular  service 


JOSHUA      WOODROW      SILL.  81 

disarranged  this  plan,  as  none  but  United  States  commissioned  officers  could  serve 
on  his  staff.  By  special  order,  however,  Sill  accompanied  McClellan  into  Western 
Virginia  as  Chief  of  Ordnance.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter,  written  after 
the  battle  near  Cheat  Mountain,  will  show  how  the  first  encounter  with  the  enemy 
affected  him :  "I  joined  McClellan  at  Buckhannon,  and  proceeded  with  him  on 
his  march  to  Beverly.  It  was  on  this  march,  as  you  have  doubtless  read  in  the 
papers,  that  we  first  encountered  the  enemy.  .  .  .  You  know  the  result  — 
how  signally  the  rebels  were  discomfited,  and  with  so  little  loss  to  ourselves. 
Their  commander,  Colonel  Pegram,  was  an  old  army  acquaintance  of  mine,  we 
having  been  cadets  together  at  West-Point.  I  felt  more  compassion  for  the  fallen 
foe  than  I  thought  it  was  possible  to  admit  into  my  composition.  But  the  sight 
of  the  bloody  field,  and  the  dismal  trench  where  lay  piled  the  forms  of  so  many 
of  God's  creatures  torn,  and  mangled,  and  slaughtered  in  arms  against  their  coun 
try,  filled  me  with  unspeakable  sadness.  I  observed,  too,  that  their  motives 
seemed  to  be,  in  many  cases,  as  truly  conscientious  as  those  which  rightly  animat 
ed  the  Northern  soldier  in  this  contest  for  law  and  order." 

After  a  glowing  description  of  the  glorious  scenery  around  the  valley  of 
Beverly,  he  continues :  "  How  depressing  the  thought,  that  this  country,  which 
one  might  have  in  fancy  populated  with  the  hardy,  simple,  liberty -loving  moun 
taineer,  had  by  its  own  faithlessness,  and  in  utter  despite  of  loyalty,  in  complete 
oblivion  of  ancestral  deeds  of  merited  renown,  thrown  itself  away  into  the  hands 
of  the  reckless,  privateering  traitors  of  the  Gulf  States.  How  inexpressibly  sad 
the  decay  and  evanescence  of  that  glorious  attribute  of  human  nature,  loyalty  to 
the  Bight  and  Just  in  civil  affairs.  .  .  .  You  have  not  seen  the  Ohio,  and  can 
not  realize  the  Spirit  of  Beauty  that  seems  to  plead  for  respite.  .  .  .  Surely 
the  impressions  of  such  scenery  cannot  be  communicated,  they  must  be  seen  and 
felt  with  gratitude  and  reverence.  They  belong  to  us  then,  and  we  are  richer  for 
evermore.  Could  but  these  fierce  combatants  drink  in  this  sweet  intoxication  and 
forget  the  dreadful  mission  with  which  they  are  charged  !  The  lovely  vale  of  the 
Ohio  and  the  secluded  dells  of  the  Kanawha  must  soon  witness  the  never-ending 
destructiveness  of  the  human  race.  We  too  are  of  the  earth  earthy,  and  must  be 
burned  out  with  the  implacable  passions.  It  is  only  our  better  angels  within  who 
love  the  woodland  stream,  the  perfume  of  the  walnut-tree,  the  smooth  trunk  and 
glossy  leaf  of  the  beech,  the  drooping  elm,  the  fragrance  of  clover-field  and  the 
long  billows  of  the  waving  grain.  .  .  .  It  is  heaven  in  us  that  recognizes  Na 
ture,  but  we,  alas  !  poor  clay,  are  quite  demoniac — given  over  for  a  season.  God 
grant  this  carnival  of  the  '  Prince  of  the  Air '  may  soon  terminate,  or  we  pass 
away  to  scenes  where  we  may  not  be  vexed." 

When  McClellan  was  called  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  Sill  organized  a  re 
giment,  the  Thirty-third  Ohio,  and  was  commissioned  its  Colonel  July,  1861.  In 


82  JOSHUA      WOODROW      SILL. 

a  letter  he  thus  refers  to  his  appointment:  "After  a  dreary  interval  of  'ledgers,' 
'stationery,'  and  'steel  pens,'  I  am  once  more  aroused  to  activity  by  the  unex 
pected  summons  of  Governor  Denison  to  take  command  of  a  regiment.  My  sta 
tion  at  present  is  the  town  of  Portsmouth,  on  the  Ohio,  where  my  regiment  is 
concentrating.  We  shall  have  work  to  do  of  the  sternest  hue.  Our  Southern 
brethren  are  in  for  a  long  resistance,  so  farewell  all  sweet  sounds  and  invitations, 
and  let  us  be  made  of  adamant  and  steel.  .  .  .  Does  your  faith  ever  waver  in 
the  ultimate  success  of  our  arms  ?  Naturally  desponding  and  skeptical,  I  have 
felt  at  times  that  the  Republic  was  sick  unto  death.  ...  If  slavery  triumphs, 
and  the  prince  of  darkness  be  allowed  to  reign  in  hemp  over  our  dear  America, 
then  indeed  we  had  better  pray  for  our  dismissal  and  die  the  martyr's  death.  .  . 
How  earnestly  my  heart  echoes  the  pathetic  appeal  of  Hungary,  'O  America, 
America !  how  can  I  give  thee  up  !  Oh  !  bury  me,  American  mother,  in  thy 
broad  bosom  or  be  to  me  a  land  of  freedom.'  ' 

In  August  he  writes  :  "  My  regiment  is  not  yet  full,  and  I  am  as  occupied  as 
I  can  afford  to  be  in  instilling  military  elementals  into  these  strong-armed  sons  of 
toil.  Day  after  day  we  go  through  marches  and  countermarches,  and  cheer  the 
monotony  by  reflections  on  the  progress  made,  and  imagine  at  times  that  we  may 
be  the  proud  participants  in  some  glorious  victory  for  freedom  and  fatherland. 
.  .  .  To-day  we  expected  a  summons  to  hurry  over  to  Western  Virginia,  where 
last  accounts  are  really  disheartening.  ...  I  have  at  times  imagined  I  could 
leave  a  name  in  the  historic  annals.  Bat  if  fame  should  become  mine,  it  will  be 
unexpected,  certainly  unsolicited.  .  .  .  The  threads  of  my  life  I  see  weaving 
before  me,  the  web  is  gliding  swift  from  the  hands  of  the  hidden  weaver,  the 
colors  are,  to  be  sure,  sober  and  neutral.  The  less  we  become  personal  in  our 
views  and  seek  to  appropriate,  the  more  beautiful  the  provision.  .  .  .  The 
pure  stream  of  our  being  should  not  be  discolored  by  our  own  personal  and  im 
pure  additions.  We  have  nothing  to  do  but  expect  and  thank  the  present  that  its 
satisfactions  have  still  left  us  the  undimmed  sight  which  God  intended  for  us." 

In  September  other  troops  were  added  to  his  command,  and  he  accompanied 
General  Nelson  in  his  Eastern  Kentucky  expedition.  After  Nelson's  return,  the 
Thirty-third  Ohio  was  assigned  to  Mitchel's  division,  and  Sill  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  a  brigade.  This  he  led  in  advance  of  our  forces  on  Bowling  Green  and 
Nashville,  and  in  the  subsequent  operations  of  General  Mitchel  in  Middle  Tennes 
see  and  North- Alabama.  He  displayed  such  talent  and  skill  in  the  handling  of 
this  brigade  that  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General.  The  nomi 
nation,  unsolicited  by  him,  was  made  upon  the  reports  and  recommendations  of 
his  superior  officers,  and  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  July  twenty-ninth,  1862. 

He  was  at  once  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  forces  stationed  at  Battle 
Creek,  then  threatened  with  an  attack  by  the  advance  of  the  rebel  General  Bragg. 


JOSHUA      WOODROW      SILL.  83 

Writing  to  a  friend  at  this  time,  he  says  :  "  We  are  here,  not  so  much  for  an  act 
ive  campaign  as  to  delude  the  enemy  until  our  commander,  General  Buell, 
arrives  with  his  great  army  from  Corinth.  We  expect  him  daily.  Meanwhile, 
our  enemy  is  not  disposed  to  brook  our  presence,  and  sends  rifle-balls  at  us  with 
uncomfortable  precision  and  frequency.  What  bloody,  unchristian  work  it  is !  I 
am  too  womanly  myself  to  become  reconciled  to  it.  This  is  a  very  frank  confes 
sion,  is  it  not  ?  But  you  will  at  least  qualify  all  your  criticisms  of  my  defective 
nature  with  the  admission  that  I  have  no  concealments  —  no  desire  to  be  known 
as  other  than  I  am.  You  cannot  think  what  a  chord  you  struck  in  even  casual 
allusions  to  my  dearest  likings,  the  fascinations  of  poetry  and  music,  and  all  the 
attractions  of  literature.  .  .  .  With  a  farewell  to  my  household  gods,  I  am 
now  adrift,  .  .  .  filled  with  the  conviction  which  so  often  oppresses  me,  the 
uselessness  of  essaying  to  thwart  our  fate.  If  the  true  nobility  clad  us  all  like  a 
garment,  we  should  not  say  oppressed  —  but  the  heroic  virtues  of  self-abnegation 
and  brotherly  love  do  not  grow  in  a  day,  still  less  do  they  thrive  in  a  period  of 
ease  and  luxury.  This  effeminates,  and  the  reaction  inevitably  follows.  As  with 
the  individual  so  with  the  nation.  '  The  rod  that  chastens,'/  the  bitterness  of  ad 
versity,'  is  the  matrix  of  all  that  is  noble  or  worth  preserving  in  humanity.  Such 
stuff  as  martyrs  are  made  of  is  as  rare  and  precious  now  as  in  all  primitive  times. 
We  need  to  see  something  of  it  and  the  rest  will  profit." 

When  General  Alexander  McD.  McCook  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major- 
Gcneral  and  to  the  command  of  an  army  corps,  General  Sill  was  assigned  by  Buell 
to  the  command  of  the  Second  division.  This  he  led  with  consummate  skill  from 
Tennessee  against  the  rebels  in  Kentucky.  His  division  was  on  the  extreme  left, 
and  it  was  due  to  his  unceasing  vigilance  and  unerring  skill  that,  under  the  orders 
of  the  Major- General,  he  effected  a  junction  with  the  remainder  of  our  troops  at 
Perryville,  having  by  an  adroit  movement  eluded  Kirby  Smith's  forces  sent  to 
intercept  him  at  Salvisa.  During  this  march  he  was  engaged  in  a  constant  run 
ning  fight  with  the  enemy,  but  so  handled  his  troops  as  to  sustain  but  trifling 
losses.  His  division  was  then  detached  to  the  relief  of  Nashville.  His  march 
thither  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  movements  of  the  war,  in  the  way  of  suc 
cessful  forced  marches  for  many  consecutive  days.  Arrived  at  Nashville,  he  re 
ceived  a  most  joyful  welcome. 

His  soldiers  almost  worshipped  him.  He  treated  them  as  men,  as  brothers. 
On  the  march  he  would  visit  the  wagon-trains  to  see  that  every  thing  was  right. 
In  order  to  resume  his  place  he  was  often  compelled  to  pass  the  troops  on  a  nar 
row  road.  As  he  passed,  he  would  be  extremely  careful  not  to  hurry  a  soldier, 
but  would  ride  very  slowly  until  the  way  was  clear.  One  of  his  staff,  whose  place 
was  in  the  rear,  often  heard  the  soldiers  say  :  "  That's  the  right  kind  of  a  Gene- 


84  JOSHUA   WOODROW   SILL. 

ral ;  lie  acts  very  differently  from  most  others,  screaming  as  they  do,  '  Get  out  of 
the  way,'  and  then  ride  over  us  if  we  do  not." 

Upon  reorganization  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  General  Eose- 
crans,  the  command  of  General  Sill's  division  was  given  to  General  E.  W.  John 
son.*  When  Sill's  staff  murmured  at  this  change,  he  said  :  "  You  must  not  com 
plain,  for  it  is  right,  he  is  the  ranking  officer,  and  the  place  is  due  him."f  He 
offered  to  secure  places  for  them  on  the  staff  of  Johnson,  but  they  refused  and 
voluntarily  remained  with  him.  Sill  himself  accepted  the  change  in  his  usual 
quiet,  obedient  fashion,  grieving  only  that  it  parted  him  from  veterans  whom  he 
loved  and  who  loved  him.  General  Sheridan  was  his  classmate  and  warm  friend  ; 
he  therefore  asked  and  obtained  a  brigade  in  his  division. 

And  now,  before  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  moves  forward  to  Murfrees- 
boro,  we  pause  to  note  more  closely  the  inner  life  of  our  young  hero.  Under  his 
calm,  quiet  exterior  was  a  hidden  strength  which  verified  the  eulogy,  that  "  when 
occasion  required  such  qualities,  he  was  great  without  effort  and  brave  without 
bustle  or  tumult."  Yet  the  irresistible  attraction  of  his  character  was  not  so  much 
his  exalted  talent,  his  unaffected  reserve  and  modesty,  as  his  firm  Christian  prin 
ciples  and  high  moral  aim.  His  religion  was  not  gloomy  and  austere,  but  the 
emanation  of  a  cheerful  trust  in  our  Saviour's  atonement.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  became  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Chillicothe.  This  he 
did  from  the  impulses  of  his  own  heart,  without  consultation  and  without  ex 
citement. 

Writing  to  a  friend  the  year  before  his  death,  in  referring  to  the  transcendent 
worth  and  superiority  of  Christianity,  even  if  it  were  merely  the  guise  of  a  philo 
sophical  theory  and  did  not  demand  the  higher  acceptation  of  the  only  truth,  he 
says  :  "  It  is  only  the  Christian  who  can  steer  onward,  not  bating  a  tittle  of  hope, 
and  hating  nothing  which  God  has  given  him  for  solace  and  enchantment,  yet  giv- 

*  The  Cincinnati  Commercial  said  at  the  time:  "The  regret  of  the  Second  division  at  the 
loss  of  General  Sill  is  intense  and  universal.  Each  man  felt  that  in  parting  with  him  he  had  lost 
a  personal  friend.  Indeed,  there  is  no  individual  in  the  army  who  stands  higher  in  the  opinion 
of  both  officers  and  men  than  General  Sill.  His  military  knowledge  and  skill,  his  prudential  care 
and  management  of  the  resources  placed  at  his  command,  his  successful  accomplishment  of  what 
ever  task  has  as  yet  been  assigned  him,  his  exemplary  diligence  in  providing  for  the  wants  of  his 
men,  his  quietr  unassuming,  courteous  demeanor  toward  all  who  approached  him,  and  his  deep 
devotion  to  the  cause  for  which  we  fight,  these  things  have  won  for  him  the  esteem  of  every  one 
who  has  made  his  acquaintance,  and  have  secured  for  him  an  honorable  reputation  among  thou 
sands  who  have  never  seen  him.  Envy  herself  seems  thus  far  to  have  spared  him,  and  I  have  yet 
to  hear  a  soldier  speak  disrespectfully  of  General  Sill." 

t  Sill's  comment  that  Johnson  outranked  him  is  a  good  military  reason  for  times  of  peace, 
when  promotion  is  a  kind  of  century-plant,  but  no  such  argument  has  had  much  force  hitherto  in 
this  war. 


JOSIIUAWOODROWSILL.  85 

ing  up  all  as  me*e  circumstance,  in  prospect  of  the  unfailing  source  of  still  greater 
wonders.  Near  to  this  is  the  idea,  it  strikes  me,  which  the  Saviour's  crucifixion 
forever  symbolizes.  Who  loves  nature  and  its  boundless  imagery,  who  loves  the 
heart-ties  and  clings  to  them,  who  loves  art  and  the  festival  of  the  imagination,  he 
indeed  lives,  and  may  be  lives  a  refined  and  somewhat  spiritual  existence.  But 
the  culmination  of  all  this  we  fail  to  reach.  We  are  so  frail  as  to  lose  our  judg 
ment  before  either  one  of  these  overpowering  influences,  and  never  pass  on  with 
white  robes  to  the  inner  sanctuary  where  God  dwelleth  and  storeth  up  experience 
and  vision,  beside  which  life's  present  blessings  must  appear  unreal  and  phantasy." 

In  writing  to  one  whose  trials  seemed  beyond  human  endurance,  he  says : 
"  True,  the  world  is  wicked  ;  but  what  do  we  expect  life  to  be,  and  how  should 
we  know  the  ineffable  sweetness  of  the  unspotted  vesture  of  God's  innocency  were 
it  not  for  this  same  dark  background  of  woe  and  despair  ?  We  can  afford  to  grant 
the  theory  of  the  Dualists,  and  none  the  less  bravely  fight  the  dread  Ahriman 
because  we  love  Ormuzd  the  Light  Spirit.  Do  not  accuse  me  of  coldness  in  thus 
suggesting  my  mode  of  slipping  along  life's  dubious  ways.  I  think  Emerson  saith 
somewhere :  '  The  world  is  a  surface,  and  we  must  learn  to  skate  well  on  it.'  Why 
should  we  allow  circumstance  to  dominate  us  ?  To-morrow's  joys  will  come,  and 
to-day's  (fcngers  and  sorrows  will  as  certainly  fade  away.  .  .  .  We  are  born 
to  be  amused,  to  sorrow,  to  desire,  to  hope,  to  mourn.  .  .  .  Happy  he  or  she 
who  can  come  forth  from  all  this  pandemonium  of  the  world  of  passion,  of  narrow 
views,  and  earthly  aims  into  that  clear  air,  where  its  good  and  evil  are  seen  with 
discriminating  eye,  and  evil's  fearful  pall  can  be  raised  and  understood,  and  God's 
everlasting  goodness  not  the  less  upheld." 

These  letters  were  written  during  his  camp-life,  in  frank  intercourse  with 
friends  whose  thoughts  were  in  harmony  with  them.  They  occupied  brief  and 
rare  intervals  of  leisure,  and  gave  expression  to  the  occasional  reaction  from  heavy 
cares  and  overwork.  Impatience,  disappointment,  and  regret  habitually  thus 
found  relief,  and  were  never  felt  by  his  associates  or  command  in  the  form  of  a 
variable  temper,  or  an  inconstant,  unreliable  administration  of  his  office.  In  his 
daily  life,  only  unvarying  gentleness  in  manner  and  firmness  in  act  were  revealed. 
When  at  times  the  overtasked  energies  seemed  about  to  reject  their  burdens,  he 
would  turn  aside  for  brief  communion  with  distant  scenes,  happy  recollections, 
and  blessed  hopes,  and  then,  with  new  vigor  and  reinspired  devotion,  again  ad 
dress  himself  to  his  labor  in  our  country's  cause. 

No  wonder  then  that  Rosecrans  has  styled  him  "  the  gentle  and  the  true," 
that  McCook,  in  his  official  report  of  the  battle,  asserts :  "  He  was  noble,  conscien 
tious  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty,  brave  to  a  fault.  He  had  no  ambition  save 
to  serve  his  country.  He  died  a  Christian  soldier,  in  the  act  of  repulsing  the  ene 
my."  And  gallant  Sheridan,  the  companion  of  his  cadetship,  the  friend  of  his 


86  JOSHUA      WOODROW      SILL. 

riper  years,  exclaims  :  "  Poor  Sill !  poor  Sill !  lie  was  pure  as  a  vjrgin,  immaculate 
as  the  angels  of  heaven."  And  General  W.  S.  Smith,  a  comrade  in  arms  who  knew 
him  well,  flings  his  whole  heart  into  the  tribute  he  offers  to  his  memory,  and  closes 
with  the  words  :  "Admirable  as  an  officer  of  the  very  finest  talent,  a  soldier  gifted 
with  that  rare  intrepidity  which  springs  from  conscious  rectitude,  an  elegant 
scholar,  he  was  even  more  distinguished  as  a  warm  and  devoted  friend.  His  soul, 
free  from  earthly  stains,  has  gone  to  God,  and  we  can  but  weep  who  loved  him  so 
well."  No  less  warmly  speaks  General  Sheridan's  aid  :  "  His  loss  was  deeply  felt 
by  the  whole  arrny.  Never  was  man  more  beloved  by  his  associates  and  troops. 
He  was  a  good  General,  a  brave  soldier,  a  perfect  gentleman,  and  a  God-like 
Christian.  Mild,  quiet,  pleasant,  yet  firm,  energetic,  and  thorough,  beloved  by 
all,  respected  by  all,  mourned  by  all,  not  one  voice  raised  to  revile  his  name." 

But  the  order,  Onward  to  Murfreesboro !  sounds  throughout  the  camp,  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland  must  advance. 

The  surface  of  the  country  between  Nashville  and  Stone  Eiver  is  undulating. 
The  whole  region  rests  on  limestone,  which  frequently  crops  out,  sometimes  on 
the  ridges,  again  in  the  lowest  ground,  and  where  the  rock  approaches  the  surface 
it  is  generally  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  cedars.  The  rest  of  the  surface  has 
been  covered  with  luxuriant  forests  of  deciduous  trees.  jl, 

On  Friday,  December  twenty-sixth,  the  Fourteenth  army  corps,  Major-Gene- 
ral  Eosecrans  commanding,  commenced,  in  three  columns,  its  march  toward  Mur 
freesboro.  The  right  wing,  commanded  by  Major-General  McCook,  with  the  divi 
sions  of  Davis,  Johnson,  and  Sheridan,  moved  down  the  Nashville  pike.  Onward 
they  marched.  They  knew  that  a  battle-field  was  before  them,  but  they  knew 
not  just  where  that  battle-field  would  be.  Onward,  through  the  dark  and  stormy 
day  —  onward,  through  thick  forests  of  cedars,  where  abrupt,  rocky  bluffs  sur 
rounded  them  on  every  side.  McCook's  advance,  under  Davis,  was  the  first  to 
encounter  the  enemy.  Skirmishing  lasted  during  the  forenoon  on  Friday,  fol 
io  wed -by  rapid  artillery  practice  when  the  opposing  numbers  or  nature  of  the 
ground  made  it  practicable.  At  night  General  McCook  bivouacked  in  a  grove  at 
Nolinsville. 

On  Saturday,  supposing  they  would  have  a  heavy  force  to  encounter,  as  they 
had  received  instructions  from  Rosecrans  to  press  the  force  of  the  enemy  at  Tri 
une,  Sheridan's  division  deployed  over  hills  and  through  farms,  and  formed  into 
line  of  battle.  Although  having  a  superb  position,  the  rebels  •  retired,  and  at 
evening  the  Stars  and  Stripes  waved  over  the  ground  the  enemy  had  occupied,  but 
a  few  hours  before.  Sunday  dawned  a  bright,  sunny  day.  It  was  a  blessed  sea 
son  of  rest  to  the  wearied,  watching  soldiery.  Watching  —  the  battle-field  was 
still  before  them — they  knew  not  how  near.  And  Monday  came  with  sunshine  and 
warmth,  no  appearance  of  winter,  no  freezing  or  even  frosts  at  night.  Onward 


JOSHUA      WOODROW      SILL.  87 

marched  the  well-ordered  right  wing  of  that  grand  army,  onward  with  occasional 
rests,  till  just  at  dark  it  struck  the  Wilkinson  pike,  a  fine  Macadamized  road, 
seven  or  eight  miles  in  length,  leading  into  Murfreesboro.  And  here  Sheridan's 
division,  in  which  General  Sill  commanded  a  brigade,  took  the  advance.  As  they 
passed  on,  most  significant  indications  appeared.  The  rail-fences  for  miles  on 
either  side  were  carefully  opened  at  about  every  third  panel,  so  that  cavalry  or 
troops  might  readily  pass.  That  night  they  bivouacked  in  the  woods  without 
tents,  without  fire,  even  the  striking  of  matches  to  light  pipes  or  cigars  was  care 
fully  guarded.  "With  lowering  heavens  above  them,  and  the  damp  earth  for  their 
bed,  the  soldiers  slept. 

Tuesday  morning  foretold  a  cool,  cloudy  day.  At  nine  o'clock,  McCook, 
with  Sheridan  still  in  the  advance,  moved  on  the  Wilkinson  pike.  General  Sill, 
to  tjie  right,  with  his  brigade  passed  onward  through  dense  cedar  thickets,  meet 
ing  with  such  formidable  resistance  that  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  move  Davis  to 
support  his  right.  The  enemy,  posted  in  powerful  natural  positions,  defended  by 
rocks  and  almost  impenetrable  cedar  forests,  formed  in  line  of  battle  just  below  a 
bend  in  Stone  River,  on  the  Nashville  side.  Sill's  approach  to  the  rebel  line  lay 
through  thickets  and  over  pastures,  known  as  Blanton's  and  Harding's  farms, 
where  woods  on  every  side  make  an  irregular,  six-sided  open  space.  Onward 
through  the  dense  cedars,  driving  the  enemy  before  them ;  onward  to  the  open 
field  they  went,  and  there  deploying  southwardly,  crossed  the  farms,  until  at 
evening  they  had  gained  the  crest  of  a  wooded  hill  to  the  south.  Thus  the  com 
bat  and  roughness  of  the  country  had  brought  forward  Sheridan's  division  so  as 
to  face  south-east.  The  position  was  faulty  ;  instead  of  being  parallel  with  the 
enemy,  our  division,  on  the  extreme  right,  approached  them  at  an  acute  angle, 
which  would  probably  have  touched  their  centre,  and  when  the  terrific  onset  came 
early  in  the  morning  the  enemy  doubled  around  our  line,  crushing  division  after 
division. 

On  the  march  from  Nashville  to  Murfreesboro,  the  presentiment  of  early 
death,  which  for  many  months  had  clung  to  General  Sill,  seemed  to  him  very  near 
realization.  Tuesday  afternoon,  riding  in  advance  of  his  brigade,  he  turned  to  his 
friend  and  aid,  Captain  De  Bruin,  and  said :  "  Mr.  De  Bruin,  do  you  know  we 
shall  have  a  severe  struggle  to-morrow  ?  we  are  going  to  fight  thirteen  divisions 
with  eight  divisions." 

"  Well,  General,"  replied  De  Bruin,  "  what  will  be  the  result  ?" 

"  I  think  we  will  whip  them,  but  many  a  good  officer  and  soldier  of  our  army 
will  be  left  upon  the  battle-field.  I  do  not  expect  to  come  out  of  that  fight  safe."* 

From  this  time  General  Sill  never  relaxed  attention  to  his  brigade.  Through 
the  night  he  took  no  rest.  At  midnight  he  left  his  bed  and  called  for  his  horsa 
Captain  De  Bruin  did  the  same.  The  General  said :  "  No,  Mr.  De  Bruin,  lie 


88  JOSHUA   WOODROW   SILL. 

down  and  take  your  rest.     You  will  probably  have  plenty  of  work  to  do  on  the 
morrow." 

The  night  was  dark  and  cloudy  but  not  tempestuous.  An  unearthly  stillness 
prevailed,  and  through  the  stillness  and  in  the  darkness  Sill  rode  around  his  lines, 
listening  to  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  He  foresaw  the  events  of  the  coming 
day,  and  therefore  ordered  the  wounded  removed  to  the  rear  before  daylight. 

Cold  and  gray,  through  misty  falling  rain,  came  sunrise  on  the  last  day  of  the 
year  1862.  Breakfast  at  dawn  was  scarcely  begun,  when  through  the  forests  on 
the  right  rolled  the  roar  of  cannon.  Under  cover  of  night,  aided  by  dense  fog, 
the  enemy  had  massed  tire  bulk  of  their  force  close  to  their  pickets,  and  as  the  sun 
came  up,  down  into  the  valley  they  swept  and  dashed  into  the  whole  line  of  our 
right  wing.  General  Johnson's  batteries,  Goodspeed's  and  Edgarton's  for  the  sup 
port  of  Sill  on  the  right,  were  utterly  unprepared ;  the  division  of  Davis,  ever- 
powered  by  numbers,  was  thrown  into  confusion  and  obliged  to  give  way.  Gene 
ral  Sheridan's  division  held  the  left  of  this  line,  protecting  the  right  of  the  centre 
under  Negley.  Sill  commanded  the  right  brigade,  Shaffer  the  centre,  and  Colonel 
Eoberts  the  left.  Thus,  when  Davis's  staunch  division  retired,  Sill  received  the 
enemy.  He  was  thoroughly  prepared.  His  gallant  brigade  met  the  shock  daunt- 
lessly,  and  hurled  back  the  enemy  with  a  splendid  charge.  Shaffer  and  Roberts 
were  also  ready  ;  they,  under  steady  Sheridan,  drove  back  the  foe.  Shaffer's  bri 
gade  now  occupied  a  sharp  angle  formed  by  the  opposing  lines,  and  here  for  a  mo 
ment  the  conflict  raged  furiously,  for  this  was  the  key  to  Negley's  position.  But 
compact  ranks  and  well-served  artillery  so  annoyed  the  enemy  that  they  again 
rushed  upon  Sill.  Gallantly  he  met  and  repulsed  them,  gallantly  his  brigade 
charged,  again  the  flashing  banner  of  the  stars  advanced,  but  Sill — in  the  forward 
line,  encouraging  his  men  and  directing  the  movements  of  a  battery  —  suddenly 
fell.  A  Minie-bullet  had  pierced  his  left  eye  and  penetrated  the  brain !  The 
sun  flashed  out  on  a  thousand  bayonets  of  glittering  steel  as  onward  swept  his 
brigade.  His  men  knew  they  had  heard  their  General's  voice  for  the  last  time  on 
earth,  and  in  terrible  energy  of  grief  they  rushed  to  avenge  his  death.  In  disor 
der  and  dismay  Withers's  rebel  division  fled,  and  returned  no  more  that  day.  The 
sun  flashed  out  —  fitting  symbol  of  the  glorious  dawn  into  which  "the  brave,  the 
gentle,  "and  the  true  "  had  entered. 

As  his  body  was  borne  to  the  rear,  General  Sheridan  ordered  De  Bruin  to  go 
with  the  escort  accompanying  it.  It  was  conveyed  to  a  point  near  a  hospital, 
where  an  attempt  was  made  to  secure  an  ambulance,  but  the  rebel  cavalry  attack- 
.  ing  the  hospital  compelled  our  men  to  retire,  which  they  did,  having  first  placed 
the  name  and  rank  of  the  General  on  his  coat.  And  thus  it  was  that  the  body  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  rebels.  The  Murfreesboro  Rebel  Standard,  in  its  last  issue 
before  the  Federal  army  took  possession,  contains  notice  of  an  order  that  General 


JOSHUA      WOODROW      SILL.  89 

Sill  should  be  interred  with  "  military  usages  accorded  a  brave  soldier,  whether 
friend  or  foe,"  and  closed  with  the  words,  "  the  ball  passed  through  his  head,  his 
countenance,  still  handsome,  bore  the  impress  of  a  brave  soul." 

But  the  rebels  did  not  bury  him.  Let  it  be  remembered  in  justification  of 
their  failure,  that  the  battle  was  continued  until  Saturday.  Had  the  victory  they 
so  confidently  expected  crowned  their  armies,  they  might  have  done  more  honor 
to  themselves  in  the  burial  of  General  Sill.  A  surgeon  of  the  Twenty-seventh 
Illinois,  while  attending  the  wounded  on  Wednesday  afternoon,  was  taken  prisoner 
and  sent  to  Murfreesboro.  The  colonel  of  his  regiment,  also  a  prisoner,  died  of 
his  wounds.  Hearing  that  General  Sill  had  been  buried  by  the  confederates,  Sur 
geon  Bowman  procured  a  coffin  similar  to  General  Sill's,  the  same  hearse,  and  the 
same  driver,  who  took  him  to  the  place  where  General  Sill's  body  had  been  left. 
It  was  in  a  fence-corner,  no  grave  dug,  no  detail  for  that  purpose.  Too  late  in  the 
day  to  go  back  to  town  and  procure  a  detail  of  men,  the  surgeon,  with  two  faith 
ful  assistants,  made  a  grave,  and  laid  the  young  General  and  Colonel  Harrington 
side  by  side  —  brothers  in  arms  —  brothers  in  death. 

This  was  a  funeral  of  truest  military  honor  !  The  very  earth  vibrating  with 
the  tramp  of  soldiers  and  horsemen  clashing  in  horrid  conflict — the  roar  of  a  hun 
dred  cannon  the  requiem  for  the  dead  —  weary  captives  bending  over  the  grave 
performing  the  solemn  rights  of  sepulture  ! 

Days  passed,  and  the  body  of  General  Sill,  recovered  by  friends,  was  borne  in 
triumphant  procession  toward  his  native  home.  Every  demonstration  of  respect 
that  civic  and  military  authority  could  give  was  accorded  by  the  people  of  Cincin 
nati  as  the  funeral  cortege  passed  through  that  city.  And  then — in  solemn  pomp, 
in  bitter  grief,  "the  brave,  the  pure,  the  true"  young  soldier  was  carried  to  the 
house  of  his  aged  father  in  Chillicothe.  On  Sunday,  February  third,  a  devoted, 
loving  people  attended  him  to  his  final  resting-place,  the  peaceful  cemetery  of 
his  home.  Again,  all  that  civic,  military,  and  friendly  interest  could  bring  fol 
lowed  him  to  the  grave.  And  with  the  calm  burial-service  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  they  laid  him  down  to  rest  —  his  cross  bravely  borne  —  his  crown  nobly 
won. 


EOBEET   A^DEESOK". 

V  "V 

Ethe  history  of  the  Southern  Conspiracy,  General  ROBERT  ANDERSON  must 
iold  a  distinguished  place,  being  the  first  federal  officer  against  whom  the 
fatal  thought  of  rebellion  took  voice  in  the  throat  of  a  cannon ;  and  though 
his  shattered  health  has  constrained  him  to  play  no  further  part  in  the  tragedy 
which  he  opened  with  such  brilliancy,  his  loyalty  to  "old  glory,"  his  wise  cour 
age  and  Christian  firmness,  in  that  one  hour  of  peril,  will  ever  keep  his  name 
honored  and  revered  among  the  American  people. 

General  Anderson  came  from  a  patriotic  and  military  family.  His  father, 
Captain  Richard  C.  Anderson,  was  the  man  whose  little  band  surprised  an  out 
post  of  the  Hessians  at  Trenton,  on  the  night  prior  to  the  decisive  battle  of  that 
place — an  attack  which  the  Hessian  commander,  Colonel  Rahl,  then  on  the  look 
out  for  Washington,  construed  to  be  the  whole  assault  against  which  he  had 
been  warned.  General  Washington  met  Anderson  retreating  with  his  company, 
and  was  very  indignant  at  what  they  had  done,  fearing  it  would  prepare  the 
enemy  for  their  advance  in  force.  The  result,  however,  proved  the  contrary,  and 
Anderson  was  then  complimented  on  the  exploit.  Captain  Anderson  served 
with  Washington  throughout  the  New  Jersey  campaign. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  the  state  of  Kentucky.  The  blood 
of  a  brave  soldier  ran  in  his  veins,  and  displayed  itself  in  his  early  desire  to 
adopt  the  profession  of  arms.  Passing  over  young  Anderson's  preliminary 
studies  and  scholastic  successes,  we  find  him,  in  1832,  acting  inspector-general 
of  Illinois  volunteers  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  filled  this  situation,  with 
credit  to  himself,  from  May  until  the  ensuing  October.  In  the  following  June, 
1833,  he  was  made  first-lieutenant.  From  1835  to  1837  he  occupied  the  respon 
sible  post  of  assistant  instructor  and  inspector  at  the  United  States  military 
academy.  He  was  assigned  to  the  staff  of  General  Winfield  Scott  as  aide-de 
camp  in  1838  ;  and  in  1839  published  his  "  Instructions  for  Field  Artillery,  Horse 
and  Foot,  arranged  for  the  Service  of  the  United  States" — a  handbook  of  great 
practical  value. 

Lieutenant  Anderson's  services  during  the  Indian  troubles  were  acknowl 
edged  by  a  brevet  captaincy,  April  2d,  1838.  In  July  of  the  same  year,  he  was 
made  assistant  adjutant-general,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  which  he  subsequently 


ROBERT      ANDERSON.  91 

relinquished  on  being  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  his  own  regiment,'  the  third 
artillery. 

In  March,  1847,  he  was  with  his  regiment  in  the  army  of  General  Scott,  and 
took  part  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz ;  being  one  of  the  officers  to  whom  was  in 
trusted,  by  Colonel  Bankhead,  the  command  of  the  batteries.  This  duty  he 
accomplished  with  signal  skill  and  gallantry.  He  remained  with  the  army  until 
its  triumphant  entry  into  the  Mexican  capital  the  following  September. 

During  the  operations  in  the  valley  of  Mexico,  Captain  Anderson  was  at 
tached  to  the  brigade  of  General  Garland,  which  formed  a  portion  of  General 
Worth's  division.  In  the  attack  on  El  Molino  del  Eey,  September  8th,  Ander 
son  was  severely  wounded.  His  admirable  conduct  under  the  circumstances  was 
the  theme  of  praise  on  the  part  of  his  men  and  superior  officers.  Captain  Burke, 
his  immediate  commander,  in  his  dispatch  of  September  9th,  says :  "  Captain 
Eobert  Anderson  (acting  field-officer)  behaved  with  great  heroism  on  this  occa 
sion.  Even  after  receiving  a  severe  and  painful  wound,  he  continued  at  the 
head  of  the  column,  regardless  of  pain  and  self-preservation,  and  setting  a  hand 
some  example  to  his  men  of  coolness,  energy,  and  courage."  General  Garland 
speaks  of  him  as  being  "  with  some  few  others  the  very  first  to  enter  the  strong 
position  of  El  Molino ;"  and  adds  that  "  Brevet-Major  Buchanan,  fourth  infantry, 
Captain  Robert  Anderson,  third  artillery,  and  Lieutenant  Sedgwick,  second  artil 
lery,  appear  to  have  been  particularly  distinguished  for  their  gallant  defence  of 
the  captured  works."  In  addition  to  this  testimony,  General  Worth  directed  the 
attention  of  the  secretary  of  war  to  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  action.  He  was 
made  brevet-major,  his  commission  dating  from  the  day  of  the  battle. 

In  the  year  1851,  he  was  promoted  to  the  full  rank  of  major,  in  the  first 
artillery.  It  was  while  holding  this  rank,  and  in  command  of  the  garrison  of 
Fort  Moultrie,  that  the  storm  which  has  so  devastated  this  fair  land  first  gathered 
strength  and  broke  upon  us. 

On  the  20th  day  of  December,  1860,  the  "state  of  South  Carolina  declared 
itself  out  of  the  Union.  The  event  was  celebrated  in  numerous  Southern  towns 
and  cities  by  the  firing  of  salutes,  military  parades,  and  secession  speeches.  At 
New  Orleans,  a  bust  of  Calhoun  was  exhibited,  decorated  with  a  cockade ;  and 
at  Memphis  the  citizens  burned  Senator  Andrew  Johnson  in  effigy.  The  plague 
of  disloyalty  overspread  the  entire  South.  In  the  mean  time,  while  the  commis 
sioners  from  South  Carolina  and  the  plotting  members  of  Congress  from  the  bor 
der  states  were  complicating  matters  with  a  timid  and  vacillating  President,  Major 
Anderson  found  himself,  with  less  than  a  hundred  men,  shut  up  in  an  untenable 
fort,  his  own  government  fearing  to  send  him  reinforcements.  Cut  off  from  aid 
or  supplies,  menaced  on  every  side,  the  deep  murmurs  of  war  growing  louder  and 
more  threatening,  the  position  of  Major  Anderson  and  his  handful  of  men  became 


92  RO.BERT     ANDERSON. 

imminent  in  the  extreme.  At  this  juncture  of  affairs,  the  brave  soldier  gave  us 
an  illustration  of  his  forethought  and  sagacity. 

One  sunny  morning,  crowds  of  anxious  people  fringed  the  wharves  of 
Charleston,  watching  the  mysterious  curls  of  smoke  that  rose  lazily  from  the 
ramparts  of  Fort  Moultrie,  and  floated  off  seaward — smoke  from  the  burning 
gun-carriages. 

On  the  night  previous,  Major  Anderson  had  quietly  removed  his  men  and 
stores  to  Fort  Sumter,  the  strongest  of  the  Charleston  fortifications,  and  the  key 
of  its  defences.  The  deserted  guns  of  Moultrie  were  spiked,  and  the  carriages 
burned  to  cinders.  The  evacuation  of  the  fort  commenced  a  little  after  sunset. 
The  men  were  ordered  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness,  with  their  knapsacks 
packed,  at  a  second's  notice ;  but  up  to  the  moment  of  their  leaving  they  had 
no  idea  of  abandoning  the  post.  They  were  reviewed  on  parade,  and  then  or 
dered  to  two  schooners  lying  in  the  vicinity.  The  garrison  flag  unwound  itself 
to  the  morning  over  Sumter. 

The  rage  of  the  South  at  this  unexpected  strategic  manoeuvre,  was  equalled 
in  its  intenseness  only  by  the  thrill  of  joy  which  ran  through  the  North.  Major 
Anderson  and  his  command  were  safe,  for  the  time  being,  and  treason  discon 
certed.  "  Major  Robert  Anderson,"  says  the  Charleston  Courier,  bitterly,  "  has 
achieved  the  unenviable  distinction  of  opening  civil  war  between  American  citi 
zens,  by  an  act  of  gross  breach  of  faith."  The  sequel  proved  his  prudence. 
Having  all  the  forts  of  the  harbor  under  his  charge,  he  had,  necessarily,  the  right 
to  occupy  whatever  post  he  deemed  expedient.  He  did  his  duty,  and  he  did  it 
well.  His  course  was  sustained  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  January  7th, 
1861. 

Before  the  first  burst  of  indignation  had  subsided,  Fort  Moultrie  was  taken 
possession  of  by  the  South  Carolinians,  and  carefully  put  into  a  state  of  defence. 
The  rebel  convention  ordered  immense  fortifications  to  be  built  in  and  about 
Charleston  harbor,  to  resist  any  reinforcements  that  might  be  sent  to  Major  An 
derson.  Strong  redoubts  were  thrown  up  on  Morris'  and  James'  Islands,  and 
Forts  Moultrie,  Johnson,  and  Castle  Pinckney,  stood  ready  to  belch  flame  and 
iron  on  the  devoted  little  garrison.  Sumter  was  invested :  no  ship  could  ap 
proach  the  place  in  the  teeth  of  those  sullen  batteries. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  information  having  been  given  by  the  United  States 
government  to  the  authorities  of  Charleston,  that  they  desired  to  send  supplies  to 
Fort  Sumter  on  an  unarmed  transport,  they  were  informed  that  the  vessel  would 
be  fired  upon  and  not  allowed  to  enter  the  port.  The  United  States  government 
then  officially  advised  the  insurgents  that  supplies  would  be  sent  to  Major  Ander 
son,  peaceably  if  possible,  otherwise  by  force.  Lieutenant  Talbot,  attached  to 
the  garrison  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  bearer  of  this  dispatch,  was  not  permitted  to 


R  0  B  E  R  T      A  N  D  E  R  S  0  N  .  93 

proceed  to  his  post.  The  steamer  Star  of  the  West  was  signalled  at  the  entrance 
of  the  harbor  on  the  morning  of  the  9th.  She  displayed  the  United  States  flag, 
but  was  fired  into,  repeatedly,  from  Morris'  Island  battery.  Her  course  was  then 
altered,  and  she  again  put  out  to  sea. 

A  formidable  floating  battery,  constructed  and  manned  at  Charleston,  was 
taken  out  of  dock  on  the  evening  of  the  10th,  and  anchored  in  a  cove  near  Sul 
livan's  Island.  About  seven  thousand  troops  now  crowded  the  earthworks  and 
forts,  under  command  of  General  G.  T.  Beauregard.  The  report  that  a  fleet  lay 
off  the  bay,  waiting  for  a  favorable  tide  to  enter  the  harbor  and  relieve  the  fort, 
caused  the  greatest  excitement  in  Charleston. 

On  the  afternoon  of  April  llth,  Colonel  Chestnut  and  Major  Lee,  aids  to 
General  Beauregard,  conveyed  to  Fort  Sumter  the  demand  that  Major  Anderson 
should  evacuate  that  fort  Major  Anderson  refused  to  accede  to  the  demand. 
On  being  waited  on  by  a  second  deputation  (April  12,  1  A.  M.),  desiring  him  to 
state  what  time  he  would  evacuate,  and  to  stipulate  not  to  fire  upon  the  batteries 
in  the  moan  time,  Major  Anderson  replied  that  he  would  evacuate  at  the  noon  of 
the  loth,  if  not  previously  otherwise  ordered,  or  not  supplied,  and  that  he  would 
not  in  the  meanwhile  open  his  fire  unless  compelled  by  some  hostile  act  against 
his  fort  or  the  flag  of  his  government.  At  3.30  A.  M.,  the  officers  who  received 
this  answer  notified  Major  Anderson  that  the  batteries  under  command  of  Gen 
eral  Beauregard,  would  open  on  Fort  Sumter  in  one  hour,  and  immediately  left. 
The  sentinels  on  Sumter  were  then  ordered  in  from  the  parapets,  the  posterns 
closed,  and  the  men  directed  not  to  leave  the  bomb-proofs  until  summoned  by  the 
drum.  The  garrison  had  but  two  days'  rations. 

At  -i.30  Friday  morning,  fire  was  opened  upon  Fort  Sumter  from  Fort  Moul- 
trie,  and  soon  after  from  the  batteries  on  Mount  Pleasant  and  Cummings'  Point, 
then  from  an  unsuspected  masked  battery  of  heavy  columbiads  on  Sullivan's 
Island.  It  soon  became  evident  that  no  part  of  the  beleagured  fort  was  without 
the  range  of  the  enemy's  guns.  A  rim  of  scarlet  fire  encircled  it.  Meanwhile 
the,  undaunted  little  band  of  seventy  true  men,  took  breakfast  quietly  at  the  reg 
ular  hour,  reserving  their  fire  until  7  A.  M.,  when  they  opened  their  lower  tier  of 
guns  upon  Fort  Moultrie,  the  iron  battery  on  Cummings'  Point,  the  two  works 
on  Sullivan's  Island,  and  the  floating  battery,  simultaneously.  "When  the  first 
relief  went  to  work,  the  enthusiasm  of  the  men  was  so  great  that  the  second  and 
third  reliefs  could  not  be  kept  from  the  guns.  The  rebel  iron  battery  was  of  im 
mense  strength,  and  our  balls  glanced  from  it  like  hail-stones.  Fort  Moultrie, 
however,  stood  the  cannonading  badly,  a  great  many  of  our  shells  taking  effect 
in  the  embrasures.  Shells  from  every  point  burst  against  the  various  walls  of 
Sumter,  and  the  fire  upon  the  parapet  became  so  terrific  that  Major  Anderson 
refused  to  allow  the  men  to  work  the  barbette  guns.  There  were  no  cartridge- 


94  ROBERT     ANDERSON. 

bags,  and  the  men  were  set  to  making  them  out  of  shirts.  Fire  broke  out  in  the 
barracks  three  times,  and  was  extinguished.  Meals  were  served  at  the  guns.  At 
6  P.  M.  the  fire  from  Sumter  ceased.  Fire  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy  during  the 
night,  at  intervals  of  twenty-five  minutes. 

At  daybreak  the  following  morning  the  bombardment  recommenced.  Fort 
Sumter  resumed  operations  at  7  A.  M.  An  hour  afterward  the  officers'  quarters 
took  fire  from  a  shell,  and  it  was  necessary  to  detach  nearly  all  the  men  from  the 
guns  to  stop  the  conflagration.  Shells  from  Moultrie  and  Morris'  Island  now  fell 
faster  than  ever.  The  effect  of  the  enemy's  shot,  on  the  officers'  quarters  in  par 
ticular,  was  terrible.  One  tower  was  so  completely  demolished  that  not  one  brick 
was  left  standing  upon  another.  The  main  gates  were  blown  away,  and  the  walls 
considerably  weakened.  Fearful  that  they  might  crack,  and  a  shell  pierce  the 
magazine,  ninety-six  barrels  of  powder  were  emptied  into  the  sea ;  finally  the 
magazine  had  to  be  closed ;  the  material  for  cartridges  was  exhausted,  and  the 
garrison  was  left  destitute  of  any  means  to  continue  the  contest.  The  men  had 
eaten  the  last  biscuit  thirty-six  hours  before.  They  were  nearly  stifled  by  the 
dense,  livid  smoke  from  the  .burning  buildings,  lying  prostrate  on  the  ground 
with  wet  handkerchiefs  over  their  mouths  and  eyes.  The  crashing  of  the  shot, 
the  bursting  of  the  shells,  the  falling  of  the  masonry,  and  the  mad  roaring  of  the 
flames,  made  a  pandemonium  of  the  place.  Strangely  enough,  but  four  men  had 
been  injured,  thus  far,  and  those  only  slightly. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  day,  ex-Senator  Wigfall  suddenly  made  his  appear 
ance  at  an  embrasure  with  a  white  handkerchief  on  the  point  of  a  sword,  and 
begged  to  see  Major  Anderson,  asserting  that  he  came  from  General  Beauregard. 

"Well,  sir!"  said  Major  Anderson,  confronting  him. 

General  Wigfall,  in  an  excited  manner,  then  demanded  to  know  on  what 
terms  Major  Anderson  would  evacuate  the  position.  The  major  informed  him 
that  General  Beauregard  was  already  advised  of  the  terms.  "Then,  sir,"  said 
Wigfall,  "the  fort  is  ours."  "On  those  conditions,"  replied  Major  Anderson. 
During  this  interview  the  firing  from  Moultrie  and  Sullivan's  Island  had  not 
ceased,  though  General  Wigfall  timidly  displayed  a  white  flag  at  an  embrasure 
facing  the  batteries.  Wigfall  retired. 

A  short  time  afterward  a  deputation,  consisting  of  Senator  Chestnut,  Eoger 
A.  Pryor,  and  two  others,  came  from  General  Beauregard,  and  had  an  interview 
with  Major  Anderson :  it  then  turned  out  that  the  officious  Wigfall  had  "  acted 
on  his  own  hook,"  without  any  authority  whatever  from  his  commanding  gen 
eral.  After  a  protracted  consultation  and  a  second  deputation,  Major  Anderson 
agreed  to  evacuate  Fort  Sumter  the  next  day.  This  was  Saturday  evening. 
That  night  the  garrison  took  what  rest  it  could.  Next  morning  the  Isabel  an 
chored  near  the  fort  to  receive  the  gallant  little  band.  The  terms  of  evacuation 


ROBERT      ANDERSON.  95 

•were  that  the  garrison  should  take  all  its  individual  and  company  property  ;  that 
they  should  march  out  -with  their  side  and  other  arms  with  all  the  honors,  in 
their  own  way,  and  at  their  own  time ;  that  they  should  salute  their  flag  and  take 
it  with  them. 

With  their  tattered  flag  flying,  and  the  band  playing  national  airs,  these  sev 
enty  heroes  marched  out  of  Fort  Sumter.  Seventy  to  seven  thousand ! 

Major  Anderson's  heroic  conduct  had  drawn  all  loyal  hearts  toward  him,  and 
it  was  the  wish  of  the  country  that  he  should  immediately  be  invested  with  some 
important  command.  He  was  made  a  brigadier-general,  and  sent  to  Kentucky 
to  superintend  the  raising  of  troops  in  that  state.  But  the  terrible  ordeal  through 
which  he  had  just  passed,  and  the  results  of  hardships  undergone  in  Mexico,  un 
fitted  him  for  active  duty.  Since  then,  General  Anderson  has  resided  in  New 
York  City. 

A  tall,  elderly  gentleman  in  undress  uniform,  leading  a  little  child  by  the 
hand,  is  often  seen  passing  slowly  along  Broadway.  His  fine,  intellectual  face  is 
the  index  to  the  genuine  goodness  and  nobility  of  his  heart.  Though  men  of 
noisier  name  meet  you  at  each  corner,  your  eyes  follow  pleasantly  after  this  one 
— Eobert  Anderson. 


THEODOEE   WIFTHBOP. 

THEODORE  WINTHROP,  who  fell  in  the  battle  of  Great  Bethel,  Virginia, 
June  10th,  1861,  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  September  21st, 
1828.  He  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  first  John  Winthrop,  who  in  1630  led 
out  from  England  one  of  the  noblest  of  the  many  Puritan  colonies,  and  became 
himself  governor  of  the  commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  In  the  next  genera 
tion  we  find  the  second  John  Winthrop  joining  the  Connecticut  colony,  soon 
raised  to  its  chief  magistracy,  and  in  1665  procuring  for  her  from  the  crown  that 
charter  of  privileges  which  became  the  herald  and  nurse  of  her  future  indepen 
dence,  and  which,  in  1688,  she  held  against  the  threats  and  baits  of  the  throne 
and  its  royal  representative.  Thus  Winthrop  died  to  maintain  the  rights  now 
and  ever  supported  by  his  ancestors.  It  was  then  the  colony  against  the  founder. 
It  is  now  the  country  against  the  state.  The  one  was  a  protest  of  a  mature 
daughter  against  a  false  and  cruel  mother :  the  other  is  a  protest  of  the  head  and 
heart  and  soul  against  the  hand  or  foot  which  would  be  separated  from  the  nour 
ishing  body  of  which  it  is  a  living  member.  Later  still  the  family  furnished  yet 
another  governor,  and  have  in  every  succeeding  generation  shared  her  protection 
and  dignities. 

Major  Winthrop's  father  was  Francis  Bayard  Winthrop,  a  gentleman  of 
wealth  and  education,  who  was  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1804,  and  died 
at  his  residence  in  New  Haven  in  1841.  His  mother  is  a  grand-daughter  of 
President  Dwight,  and  a  sister  of  President  Wolsey — the  latter  almost  a  syno 
nym  for  scholarship,  manners,  and  a  Christianized  Roman  virtue.  Thus  Win 
throp's  very  name  is  pervaded  with  New  England  virtues  and  memories — an 
aristocratic  name,  if  one  can  bring  himself  to  utter  a  term  so  fraught  with  mean 
ness,  pride,  and  tyranny,  so  hateful  to  a  Christian  republican ;  for,  in  spite  of  all 
levelling,  social  theories,  blood  is  character.  The  Edwardses,  the  Dwights,  the 
Wolseys,  and  the  Winthrops,  did  meet  in  the  antecedent  blood  of  Theodore 
Winthrop,  the  soldier,  and  went  to  mould  and  inspire  the  future  hero.  We  are 
each  the  resultant  of  past  forces ;  and  not  only  the  looks  and  tones,  the  habits 
and  traits  of  our  fathers,  but  their  spirit,  their  sentiment,  and  their  "faith  un 
feigned,"  leave  their  invisible,  silent  deposits  in  our  veins. 

As  a  boy,  Major  Winthrop  is  described  as  fair  and  pale  in  feature,  but  not 


MA  I    THEOD<  >RE  WINTHROP 


T  II  E  0  D  0  11  E     W  I  X  T  H  R  0  P .  97 

sickly,  delicate  in  frame,  neat  in  habits,  quick  and  rather  precocious  in  studies. 
He  entered  Yale  from  the  well-known  school  of  Messrs.  French,  of  New  Haven, 
and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1848.  At  first  he  seemed  indifferent  to  lit 
erary  success ;  but  about  the  middle  of  his  course  his  spirit  received  a  mighty 
momentum,  as  if  a  new  soul  possessed  him.  Always  highly  reflective  beyond 
his  years,  the  thought  that  he  was  the  eldest  son,  and  must  sustain  the  ancestral 
honors  by  his  personal  character  and  deeds,  together  with  the  solemn  shadow  of 
life  which  falls  heavily  on  every  sensible  and  conscientious  youth  as  he  passes 
on  through  college,  awoke  him  to  the  intensest  activity.  The  result  of  this  dis 
cipline  of  thought  was  soon  evinced  in  his  sharing  the  honor,  though  not  the 
prize,  of  the  senior  Berkleian  with  one  classmate,  and  in  his  wresting,  by  severe 
competition,  from  another  prominent  scholar,  the  Clark  scholarship,  then  for  the 
first  time  put  on  a  foundation.  This  contest  placed  him  on  perhaps  the  most 
honorable  list  which  Yale  presents,  the  "  Scholars  of  the  House ;"  and  was  more 
significant  of  power,  since  the  ordeal  was  new.  The  later  "  Biennial"  had  not 
been  inaugurated. 

Soon  after  graduation,  Winthrop,  with  Eutledge  of  South  Carolina,  and  oth 
ers,  formed  the  first  class  in  the  "  School  of  Philosophy  and  Arts ;"  a  department 
generously  established  the  year  previous,  and  opening  before  the  youthful  scholar 
a  broader  range  of  studies  worthy  of  his  best  ambition.  As  the  winter  wore 
away,  Winthrop's  mind  proved  of  a  finer  grain  than  had  been  suspected.  He 
loved  metaphysics,  and,  without  remarkable  talent  for  logical  inquiry,  entered 
with  keen  and  penetrative  sagacity  into  the  vast  questions  of  the  infinite,  and 
the  unknown,  and  the  phenomenal — the  vasta  semina  rerum  which  will  loom  up 
around  the  chaotic  mind  of  youth.  Winthrop  seems  then  to  have  had  a  clear, 
neat,  keen  intellect,  and  to  have  been  earnest  and  tender  in  spirit,  manly  in 
tastes,  noble  in  resolves,  high-bred  in  manners,  and  showing  that  poetic  refine 
ment  and  almost  ethereal  delicacy  of  sentiment  which  usually  go  with  the  fine 
organism  of  the  Saxon. 

But  this  severe  mental  work,  added  to  private  literary  studies,  proved  too 
much  for  his  frame.  His  physicians  told  him  he  must  travel.  Giving  up  the 
plans  of  theology,'  literature,  and  law,  which  he  had  successively  formed  in 
choosing  a  profession,  he  embarked  in  July,  1849,  for  Europe.  By  his  journal, 
we  find  him  arriving  at  London,  August  28th ;  in  Paris,  November  23d ;  and  at 
Rome,  January  9th.  With  eyes,  ears,  and  pen  continually  busy,  he  spends 
February  in  traversing  eastern  Italy,  March  in  Greece,  April  in  northern  Italy, 
and,  after  tramping  in  a  sturdy  pedestrian  tour  through  Germany  and  Swit 
zerland,  returns  to  Paris  in  September.  To  enter  and  mingle  thus  in  the 
historic  glories  of  the  Old  World,  was  a  privilege  longed  for  from  child-hood ; 
and  yet  his  itineraries  show  that  travel  cultured  and  broadened  his.  observing 


98  THEODORE     WINTHROP. 

mind  only  to  sadden  it.  In  London,  at  the  outset  of  his  journey,  he  writes, 
"I  am  half-dead  in  body  and  mind;"  and  at  Paris,  at  its  close,  he  bitterly 
exclaims  on  his  birth-day,  "Life  at  present  offers  me  no  hope."  This  subtle, 
pervasive  melancholy  was  due  less  to  disease  than  the  fine-  structure  of  his  mind. 
Nothing  can  exceed  the  sufferings  of  a  gifted  youth  who  is  conscious  of  power, 
yet  unable  td  gauge  that  power,  determine  its  true  field,  and  realize  it  in  action. 
He  longs  to  traverse  the  sea  of  life  where  his  companions  have  wandered  before 
him,  hearing  in  the  distance  its  tumultuous  waves,  each  crested  with  hopes  yet 
dark  below,  the  grave  of  many  projects.  Full  of  allusions  to  death,  he  dreads  it 
not.  It  is  the  premature  decay  of  mental  health,  this  dying  before  one  has  half 
lived  or  even  begun  to  live,  that  cast  down  his  high  and  regnant  soul.  In  his 
last  years,  philosophy,  religion,  and  worldly  knowledge,  brought  him  to  a  "  se 
rene  and  upper  air,"  which  no  such  fears  could  disturb.  In  Greece  alone  he 
becomes  buoyant  and  elastic.  It  was  sacred  ground,  where  heroes  called  to  his 
classic  mind  from  every  hill  .and  stream  and  valley ;  a  land  pervaded  with  high 
resolves,  long  since  made  good  in  history.  He,  too,  could  become  all  he  wished ; 
for,  to  a  true  heart,  a  clear  purpose  is  more  inspiring  even  than  achievement. 

In  April,  1851,  three  months  after  his  return,  Mr.  Winthrop  entered  the 
Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company,  at  the  invitation  of  W.  II.  Aspinwall,  Esq., 
whose  acquaintance  he  had  made  in  Europe.  His  diaries  show  him  still  alive  to 
poetry,  metaphysics,  criticisms ;  still  wrestling  with  the  problem  of  the  life  of 
the  body  and  the  higher  life  of  the  soul.  In  one  place  he  says  strongly :  "  Men 
die  for  three  reasons;  because  they  have,  or  cannot,  or  will  not,  achieve  their 
destiny.  As  for  me,  I  would  belong  to  the  first  class ;  but,  finding  myself  in  the 
third,  prefer,  even  with  a  shock  to  my  pride,  to  be  ranked -in  the  second,  and  pray 
that  the  fruitless  struggle  may  be  soon  ended."  He  fears  that  he  cannot  realize 
a  perfect  manhood;  and  yet  who  would  have  thought  that  such  pensiveness 
could  underlie  so  much  life,  action,  and  noble  feeling  ? 

In  September,  Mr.  Winthrop  recrossed  the  Atlantic,  to  place  Mr.  Aspin- 
wall's  son  and  nephew  at  school  in  Switzerland,  and,  after  revisiting  some  of  the 
more  interesting  portions  of  Germany,  enters  upon  his  old  duties  in  January, 
1852.  The  ensuing  autumn  finds  him  in  Panama,  in  the  employment  of  the 
steamship  company,  and  almost  well  and  happy.  The  tropics,  where  physical 
life  is  most  intense,  varied,  and  perfect,  is  a  new  world.  Every  thing  invites 
and  promises  adventure.  The  spirit  of  travel  is  strong  upon  him,  and  he  cannot 
be  quiet.  Nature  speaks,  and  he  is  her  child,  and  must  ever  listen  with  rever 
ence  and  joy  to  her  many  voices.  After  often  traversing  the  Isthmus  with  the 
treasure-parties,  he  returned  home  by  San  Francisco.  Here  the  observer,  poet, 
thinker,  is  busy.  The  mines  of  California,  the  filthy  delusions  of  Utah,  sickness 
at  the  Dalles  of  the  Columbia,  the  hospitalities  of  Governor  Ogden  of  the  Hud- 


THEODORCWINTHROP.  99 

son's  Bay  Company,  perils  from  treacherous  Indians,  the  wilderness,  the  desert, 
and  the  mountains,  crowd  his  note-book  with  thrilling  incident  and  vivid  pic 
tures.  These  are  partly  embodied  in  "John  Brent,"  and  a  volume  of  Sketches, 
yet  to  be  published. 

He  returns  to  the  counting-room  in  November ;  but  his  heart  and  fancy  are 
still  abroad.  Accordingly,  in  January,  1854,  with  Mr.  Aspinwall's  consent,  he 
joins  Lieutenant  Strain's  expedition  to  prospect  for  a  ship-canal  among  the  Sier 
ras  of  the  Isthmus,  and  would  have  perished  from  hardships  had  he  not  wandered 
from  his  party  and  been  forced  to  make  his  way  back  to  the  ship.  Eeturning  to 
New  York,  he  began  in  March  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Charles  Tracy, 
Esq. ;  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  in  1855,  remained  with  him  as  clerk 
another  year. 

The  following  summer  finds  him  travelling  in  Maine  with  Church  the  artist, 
and  under  their  mutual  inspiration  he  drinks  in  nature  with  the  soul  of  a  poet 
and  the  eye  of  a  painter.  He  returned  to  enter  the  political  campaign  of  1856. 
Long  since  a  Eepublican  in  heart  and  by  scholarship,  he  canvassed  for  Fremont 
in  Pennsylvania,  entering  with  all  his  energies  into  that  conflict  between  slave- 
ocracy  and  liberty  of  which  the  present  civil  war  is  the  bloody  consummation. 
America,  to  use  his  own  strong  words,  seemed — 

"  A  noble  land  to  stride  athwart  and  wake 

All  its  myriads  up  to  noble  thought ; 
Deep  sleep  of  thousand  hearts  to  break, 
Till  great  deliverance  is  wrought!" 

After  the  issue,  he  established  himself  in  law  at  St.  Louis ;  but  the  climate  and 
life  not  suiting,  he  returned  in  July,  1858,  to  find  at  last  his  true  calling — the 
pleasing,  perilous  field  of  literature  and  authorship.  Never  did  a  writer  use  more 
conscientious  energy.  He  studied,  read,  wrote,  and. rewrote,  mastered  botany, 
and  travelled  by  every  method ;  so  that  the  thought,  the  quotation,  the  style, 
the  features,  might  be  perfect — coming  ever  near  the  face  and  heart  of  his  great 
teacher,  Nature.  "  The  March  of  the  Seventh  New  York  Eegiment  to  Wash 
ington,"  and  "Love  and  Skates,"  two  well-known  contributions  to  the  Atlantic 
Monthly,  "Cecil  Dreeme,"  "John  Brent,"  and  "Edwin  Brothertoft,"  are  already 
published;  while  a  volume  of  travels  is  promised  —  but  a  small  portion  of 
the  embryo  novels,  tales,  essays,  and  poems,  which  shine  among  his  papers. 
The  prelude  has  become,  with  his  deeds,  the  whole  drama.  "  John  Brent"  espe 
cially  abounds  in  masterly  single  pictures  of  scenes  and  characters ;  while  all  his 
works  are  marked  by  a  clear,  neat,  antithetic  style,  and  sublimed  by  just,  warm, 
nobly  humane  sentiments.  Here  and  there  we  'find  a  broad  generalization,  show 
ing  that  fine  philosophy  which  the  deeper  novelist  always  draws  from. 


100  THEODORE     WJNTHROP. 

But,  at  the  fall  of  Sumter,  "Winthrop  dropped  the  pen  and  grasped  the 
sword.  The  acts  which  followed  all  know.  He  joined  the  seventh  regiment  at 
New  York;  marched  with  it  to  "Washington;  became  a  member  of  General 
Butler's  staff,  as  aid  and  military  secretary,  tit  Fortress  Monroe;  land  aided  in 
planning  the  attack  on  the  batteries  at  Great  Bethel,  where,  on  the  disastrous 
10th  of  June,  he  fell  in  the  van,  his  firm  wiry  form  erect,  waving  his  sword,  and 
calling  his  comrades  on  into  the  very  jaws  of  death. 

And  yet  he  did  not  die,  he  cannot  die.  The  brave,  like  the  good,  die  never. 
He  lives — destined  to  be  an  inspiring  historic  name  of  the  war. 

But  Winthrop's  life  and  death  are  best  sung  by  himself,  in  his  own  poems : 

"  March  we  must,  ever  wearily, 

March,  we  will ;  true  men  will  be  true 

"  Mine  be  a  life 

Of  struggle  and  endurance,  and  a  free 
Dash  at  the  fates  which  front  us  terribly  I 
Certain  bliss,  yet  nobler  effort  still  I 
Grander  duties,  gemmed  with  finer  joys. — 
He  sleeps !     Ah,  well !  not  on  some  field 
Where  victor  charge  and  victor  shout, 
Ringing  through  feeble  pulses,  pealed 
As  when  a  falchion  smites  a  shield, 
And  dying  hearts,  too  happy,  yield 
Their  life  with  conquering  paeans  out  1" 


HEE"EY  W.   BELLOWS,  D.  D. 

DR.  BELLOWS  has  for  many  years  been  quite  prominent  as  a  writer  and 
preacher,  but  of  late  he  has  risen  to  a  new  and  national  position  as  head 
of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  and  of  course  as  chief  adviser  in  that  great  work  of 
saving  the  health  and  life  of  our  troops,  which  is  quite  as  important  as  leading 
them  to  victory.  He  is  still  a  young  man,  for  one  who  has  accomplished  so 
much.  He  was  born  in  Boston,  June  llth,  1814,  thus  being  under  forty-eight 
years  of  age.  He  received  his  early  education  there,  and  completed  his  prepara 
tion  for  college  at  the  famous  Eound  Hill  School  at  Northampton,  Massachusetts, 
while  it  was  under  the  charge  of  George  Bancroft  and  Dr.  Cogswell.  He  entered 
Elarvard  College  in  1828,  and  graduated  in  1832.  Spending  the  two  subsequent 
years  in  teaching,  part  of  the  time  in  Louisiana,  he  returned  to  Cambridge  to 
study  theology  at  the  Divinity  School  there,  and  completed  his  course  in  1837. 
A  few  months  afterward  (January  2d,  1838),  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  in  New  York  city,  where  he  still  continues  to  labor. 
His  church  stood  first  in  Chambers  street,  where  he  remained  until  a  new  edifice 
was  built  for  him  in  Broadway,  where  Dr.  Chapin  now  preaches ;  and  in  a  few 
years,  on  account  of  the  rapid  change  in  the  centre  of  residences,  the  present 
All  Souls'  Church  was  erected  for  him,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  avenue  and 
Twentieth  street 

Dr.  Bellows  has  made  his  mark  upon  the  age,  not  only  by  the  boldness  of 
his  positions  and  the  fervor  of  his  eloquence,  but  by  prominent  acts  of  executive 
force.  He  was  the  principal  originator  of  the  "  Christian  Inquirer,"  the  Unita 
rian  newspaper  of  New  York,  in  1846,  and  for  several  years  he  was  chief  editor. 
He  was  the  moving  power  in  the  rescue  of  Antioch  College,  Ohio,  from  extinc 
tion,  and  in  putting  it  upon  a  footing  of  usefulness  and  hope.  He  has  been 
known  to  the  country  at  large,  however,  by  the  original  and  eloquent  sermons 
orations,  and  addresses,  that  have  been  put  forth  from  time  to  time  upon  topics 
of  popular  interest.  A  volume  of  twenty  or  thirty  of  these  productions  will 
make  an  important  chapter  of  our  literary  and  social  history,  as  well  as  an  ex 
cellent  illustration  of  the  many-sidedness  of  the  man.  The  most  conspicuous  of 
these  were  his  discourse  at  Cambridge  on  the  suspense  of  faith*  1859,  and  his 
noted  defence  of  the  drama  in  1857.  This  latter  was  really  an  act  of  great 


102  HENRY     W.      BELLOWS,    D.D. 

Bravery-;  and  while"  his 'performance  was  a  profound  and  brilliant  one,  its  heroism 
was  even  more  memorable. 

Probably  the  most  careful  studies  that  he  has  given  to  the  public  are  his 
lectures  before  the  Lowell  Institute,  Boston,  on  the  "  Treatment  of  Social  Dis 
eases,"  in  1857.  These  lectures  were  very  patient,  practical,  and  sagacious,  and 
undoubtedly  prepared  the  author  for  his  present  task  as  President  of  the  Sani 
tary  Commission.  The  organization  of  this  commission  was  in  great  part  his 
work ;  and  they  who  were  with  him  throughout  the  first  struggle  of  its  friends  to 
secure  to  it  a  firm  foundation,  testify  to  the  boundless  courage,  versatile  talent 
and  practical  sagacity,  with  which  he  carried  his  point,  and  won  over  to  his 
cause  the  heads  of  the  nation,  and  discomfited  the  red-tape  procrastinators  who  are 
such  masters  of  the  art  "  How  not  to  do  it."  His  labors  for  nearly  a  year  in  this 
commission  have  been  very  great.  He  has  conducted  a  large  correspondence, 
given  many  addresses,  had  personal  interviews  with  important  persons,  travelled 
east,  west,  and  south,  to  inspect  the  camps  and  hospitals  in  person,  and  actually 
rendered  the  service  of  a  major-general  in  the  corps  of  militant  benevolence. 
Meanwhile,  he  has  kept  his  ministerial  charge,  and  maintained  the  high  intel 
lectual  and  devotional  character  of  his  pulpit  labors. 

Dr.  Bellows  is  a  versatile  man,  and,  by  a  necessity  of  his  nature,  as  well  as 
from  the  opportunities  of  his  position,  he  has  taken  a  warm  interest  in  subjects 
of  the  most  diverse  kind.  Thus,  shortly  after  astounding  the  old  priesthoods  by 
his  defence  of  the  drama  before  an  association  of  actors,  he  came  out  with  his 
famous  discourse  at  Cambridge  on  the  suspense  of  faith,  and  alarmed  his  old 
friends  in  freedom  and  progress  with  fears  lest  he  were  taking  the  back  track, 
and  would  be  soon  at  the  Vatican,  kneeling  for  the  pope's  blessing  on  his  peni 
tent  head.  But  they  who  look  to  the  springs  of  his  convictions  discover  the 
interior  unity  of  the  man,  and  can  see  that  he  may  be  a  warm  champion  of  a  new 
and  purer  Church  Universal,  and  be  all  the  more  ready  to  give  the  beautiful  arts, 
the  drama  among  them,  a  place  within  its  benediction.  We  should,  perhaps,  be 
sorry  to  be  obliged  to  reconcile  all  Dr.  Bellows'  utterances  through  a  term  of 
years  with  each  other,  for  he  writes  and  speaks  from  the  spur  of  the  moment," 
pushing  his  fiery  steed  on  at  full  gallop,  apparently  without  looking  behind  him. 
Yet  it  is  very  remarkable  how  well  his  various  positions  illustrate  and  complete 
each  other ;  and  even  when  he  runs  counter  to  himself  in  appearance,  as  in  his 
attitude  at  one  time  as  a  teacher  of  transcendentalism,  and  again  as  a  champion 
of  an  authoritative  Church,  it  will  be  found,  as  in  his  recent  volume  of  sermons 
of  various  dates,  that  his  course  is  cumulative,  and  that  he  is  travelling  over  dif 
ferent  parts  of  the  same  great  domain,  and  now  ranging  in  the  open  pasture  and 
now  resting  in  the  safe  fold.  If,  however,  he  had  the  same  power  in  setting  forth 
and  urging  a  complete  system  of  truth  or  practice  that  he  has  shown  in  dealing 


HENRY     W.      BELLOWS,     D.D.  103 

with  specific  ideas  and  measures,  he  would  take  a  place  among  the  great  con 
structive  minds  of  the  age.  As  yet  he  has  not  brought  his  convictions  and 
powers  to  bear  organically  upon  his  work,  and  his  brilliant  thoughts  sometimes 
flash  more  in  lines  of  impulsive  force,  like  the  lightning,  than  shine  together  like 
the  constellations.  Yet  it  is  not  difficult  to  conceive  of  him  as  combining  his 
views,  experiences  and  plans  into  one  method,  and  bringing  his  electric  power  to 
bear  upon  some  great  and  permanent  work  of  social  or  religious  construction. 
He  has  some  great  gifts  as  a  religious  teacher  and  organizer ;  and  if  he  lives 
twenty  years,  he  ought  to  do  something  to  meet  the  great  want  of  our  time, 
which  he  has  so  ably  set  forth,  the  want  of  a  broad  and  effective  and  truly  cath 
olic  church  system,  that  shall  be  at  once  generous  and  strong.  As  it  is,  how 
ever,  he  has  done  little  in  this  direction ;  and  with  gifts  that  in  some  respects 
rival  Wesley's  or  even  Loyola's,  he  has  been  apparently  little  ambitious  of 
church  influence,  and  depends  mainly  upon  his  rare  personal  power  as  preacher 
for  the  success  of  his  ministry,  without  any  help  from  the  methods  of  edification 
and  administration  which  he  so  powerfully  discusses  and  advocates  as  needed  to 
unite  and  strengthen  the  generous  minds  of  our  day.  As  yet,  he  talks  catholi 
city,  and  practises  extreme  individualism. 

Dr.  Bellows  is  an  acute  and  original  thinker,  a  shrewd  observer  of  men,  a 
lover  of  the  best  books,  especially  of  the  day,  a  ready  and  brilliant  writer  and 
eloquent  speaker,  a  cordial  friend,  a  humane  and  devout  Christian.  His  main 
gift  that  marks  him  above  most  other  men  is  a  certain  force  of  character  that 
gives  him  direct  influence  over  others.  He  has  contemporaries  more  learned, 
more  philosophical,  more  constructive  than  he,  and  quite  as  brilliant  in  style  and 
eloquent  in  speech.  But  no  man  can  carry  a  given  point  where  enthusiasm  and 
moral  power  are  needed  so  well  as  he ;  and  he  has  a  certain  princely  quality  in 
his  temper  and  presence  that  gives  him  remarkable  sway.  Were  he  not  emi 
nently  public-spirited,  and  full  generally  of  humane  purposes,  his  tone  might 
often  seem  presuming;  but  in  leading  movements  he  rides  his  hobby  or  his 
knightly  steed  not  for  himself,  but  for  the  good  cause  of  patriotism,  or  humanity, 
or  faith ;  and  while  the  superannuated  dignitaries  of  the  faculty,  or  the  staff,  or 
the  pulpit,  whom  he  starts  from  their  sleep,  may  curse  him  for  his  insolence,  the 
patriots  and  philanthropists  of  the  land  will  honor  him  as  a  brave  and  sagacious 
reformer,  and  wish  him  God-speed  in  his  campaign  of  mercy  and  heroism. 

These  stirring  times  have  evidently  had  a  decided  effect  on  Dr.  Bellows' 
ways  of  thinking.  He  has  long  been  a  leader  in  the  liberal  school  of  thought, 
and  has  given  a  large  part  of  his  life  to  vindicating  the  rights  of  the  human  soul 
against  ancient  prescriptions  and  priesthoods,  dogmas  and  dignities.  In  this  he 
has  followed  in  the  track  of  Channing,  and  sometimes  he  has  approached  the 

extreme  individualism  of  Emerson,  and  tended  to  slight  the  power  of  positive 
14 


HENRY     W.      BELLOWS,    D.D. 

institutions  and  constitutional  laws.  Of  late  years  he  has  been  more  conserva 
tive,  and  since  his  public  position  has  connected  him  more  closely  with  national 
affairs,  and  shown  him  the  difficulty  of  carrying  out  abstract  ideas,  and  the  im 
portance  of  uniting  men  as  far  as  possible  upon  some  standard  of  authority,  he 
has  taken  a  bold  stand  with  the  constitutional  party.  He  is  now,  as  ever,  an 
emancipationist,  but  he  trusts  mainly  in  the  power  of  social  and  moral  causes  to 
free  the  slave ;  and,  while  favoring  the  rigid  enforcement  of  law  against  rebe 
slaveholders,  he  is  for  leaving  to  all  loyal  states  and  men  their  full  rights  of  local 
jurisdiction  under  the  constitution. 

In  person,  Dr.  Bellows  carries  dignity  and  suavity,  and  has  an  air  of  experi 
ence  and  age  beyond  his  actual  years.  At  heart,  however,  he  is  very  young,  and 
can  be  as  merry  and  amusing  as  any  of  the  solid  old  fathers  of  the  Church,  like 
Luther  and  his  compeers,  who  thought  an  honest  laugh  sometimes  no  unseemly 
preparation  for  a  sincere  prayer.  Perhaps  the  doctor's  prayers  are  the  best  thing 
that  he  does ;  and  the  fair  inference  is,  that  if  so  much  unction  drops  so  readily 
from  his  lips,  there  must  be  a  deep  fountain  within.  It  is  well  that  he  is  thus  a 
devout  man,  and  earnest  to  subdue  his  will  to  the  Supreme  will ;  for  his  temper 
ament  is  of  the  impulsive,  commanding  kind,  such  as  tends,  not  from  calculation 
but  from  instinct,  to  take  the  lead,  and  to  submit  with  great  difficulty  to  any 
other  position.  If  the  army  has  thus  lost  a  brave  and  somewhat  exacting  gen 
eral,  or  the  Senate  a  brilliant  and  imperious  leader,  the  Church  has  gained  a 
commanding  preacher,  and  humanity  a  fearless  and  faithful  friend. 


SAMUEL   FKANCIS   DU    PONT. 

SAMUEL  FBANCIS  DU  PONT,  rear-admiral  in  the  United  States  navy, 
was  born  at  Bergen  Point,  New  Jersey,  September  27th,  1803.  His  grand 
father,  Pierre  Samuel  Du  Pont  de  Nemours,  well  known  in  French  history  as  a 
political  economist,  and  a  representative  in  the  Chamber  of  Notables  and  the 
States-General,  emigrated  to  America  with  his  two  sons,  Victor  and  E.  S.  Du 
Pont,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1799.  The  elder  of  these  resided  in  the  state  of 
New  York  until  1809,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Wilmington,  Delaware,  of  which  state  his  son,  Admiral  Du  Pont,  is 'a  resident 
and  citizen.  The  latter  was,  in  1815,  when  but  twelve  years  of  age,  commissioned 
by  President  Madison  a  midshipman  in  the  United  States  navy ;  and  it  is  an 
interesting  fact  that  Mr.  Jefferson,  alluding  to  the  appointment  in  a  letter  to  his 
grandfather,  expressed  the  hope  that  he  might  live  to  be  an  admiral.  He  sailed 
on  his  first  cruise  in  1817,  on  board  the  Franklin,  seventy-four,  under  Commo 
dore  Stewart,  and  thenceforth  for  many  years  performed  the  ordinary  routine 
duties  of  his  profession,  which,  owing  to  the  peaceful  relations  subsisting  between 
the  United  States  and  foreign  powers,  were  of  no  special  importance.  He,  how 
ever,  showed  himself  an  active  and  able  officer,  in  whatever  capacity  employed, 
and  saw  a  fair  proportion  of  sea-service. 

In  1845,  being  then  a  commander,  Du  Pont  was  ordered  to  the  Pacific,  in 
command  of  the  frigate  Congress,  bearing  the  broad  pennant  of  Commodore 
Stockton,  and  was  on  the  California  coast  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  with 
Mexico.  He  was  soon  after  put  in  command  of  the  sloop-of-war  Cyane,  and,  in 
the  varied  and  difficult  service  which  fell  to  his  lot,  acquitted  himself  with  pru 
dence  and  gallantry,  taking  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  conquest  of  Lower  Cali 
fornia.  Four  different  commodores  commanding  on  that  station  testified  to  the 
faithful  manner  in  which  he  discharged  his  duties,  and  the  secretary  of  the  navy 
added  the  unqualified  approval  of  his  department. 

Early  in  February,  1848,  Commander  Du  Pont,  while  lying  off  La  Paz,  as 
certained  that  a  brother-officer,  Lieutenant  Heywood,  with  four  midshipmen  and 
a  few  marines,  was  beleaguered  in  the  mission-house  of  San  Jose  by  an  over 
powering  force  of  Mexicans  under  Colonel  Pineda.  He  immediately  sailed  for 
the  latter  place,  landed  on  the  15th  of  the  month  a  force  of  one  hundred  and  two 


106 


SAMUEL    FRANCIS    DU    PONT. 


men  of  all  ranks,  and,  defeating  and  dispersing  the  besiegers,  who  outnumbered 
him  four  or  five  to  one,  rescued  the  hard-pressed  but  dauntless  little  band  of  his 
countrymen.  "I  want  words,"  wrote  Commodore  Shubrick,  the  commanding 
officer  of  the  station,  "  to  express  my  sense  of  the  gallant  conduct  of  these  officers, 
but  feel  that  I  am  perfectly  safe  in  saying  that  the  annals  of  war  cannot  furnish 
instances  of  greater  coolness,  of  more  indomitable  perseverance,  of  more  conspic 
uous  bravery,  and  of  sounder  judgment." 

In  1856,  Du  Pont  attained  the  rank  of  captain,  and  in  the  succeeding  year 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  steam-frigate  Minnesota,  which  conveyed  Mr. 
Reed,  the  American  minister,  to  China.  Arriving  during  the  Anglo-French  war 
with  -the  Chinese,  he  was  one  of  the  first  who  visited  Canton  after  its  bombard 
ment,  and  was  also  an  eye-witness  of  the  capture  by  the  allies  of  the  forts  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Peiho  Eiver.  He  returned  to  the  United  States  in  1859,  having 
extended  his  cruise  to  Japan  and  the  coast  of  southern  Asia,  and. on  January  1st, 
1861,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Philadelphia  navy-yard. 

The  outbreak  of  the  Southern  Rebellion  found  Du  Pont  on  the  active  list 
of  captains,  and  with  a  reputation  for  professional  capacity  and  fidelity  of  which 
the  government  was  not  slow  to  avail  itself.  As  a  means  of  crushing  the  naval 
power  of  the  rebels,  and  cutting  them  off  effectually  from  supplies,  it  was  early 
determined  to  occupy  one  or  more  important  points  on  the  Southern  coast,  where 
the  blockading  squadrons  or  cruisers  of  the  government  might  resort  for  shelter 
or  supplies,  or  rendezvous  for  expeditions ;  and  to  Captain  Du  Pont  was  intrusted 
the  selection  of  such  a  place.  After  consultation  between  Mr.  Fox,  assistant  sec 
retary  of  the  navy,  and  himself,  the  harbor  of  Port  Royal,  on  the  coast  of  South 
Carolina,  was  fixed  upon;  and  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1861,  prepa 
rations  for  a  joint  naval  and  military  expedition  thither  were  vigorously  but 
quietly  pursued.  The  land-forces,  under  the  command  of  General  Thomas  W. 
Sherman,  assembled  at  Annapolis,  whence  on  October  21st  they  were  conveyed 
in  transports  to  Fortress  Monroe,  to  join  the  fleet  of  war- vessels  under  Commo 
dore  Du  Pont  with  which  they  were  intended  to  co-operate.  On  the  29th,  the 
whole  fleet,  numbering  upward  of  fifty  sail,  weighed  anchor  and  stood  out  to  sea, 
led  by  the  steam-frigate  Wabash,  bearing  the  broad  pennant  of  Commodore  Du 
Pont,  as  commander  of  the  South  Atlantic  blockading  squadron.  On  the  after 
noon  of  November  1st,  a  heavy  gale  set  in,  which  increased  in  violence  during 
the  night,  and  raged  with  fury  until  the  next  evening,  dispersing  the  fleet  in  all 
directions,  and  causing  the  loss  of  several  transports  and  a  quantity  of  material. 
On  Monday,  the  4th,  the  greater  part  of  the  fleet  had  assembled  off  Port  Royal 
bar,  which  lies  ten  miles  seaward,  and  is  about  two  miles  in  width ;  and  the  small 
steamer  Vixen  was  immediately  dispatched  to  find  the  channel,  and  replace  the 
buoys  removed  by  the  rebels.  This  having  been  accomplished  early  in  the  after- 


SAMUEL      FRANCIS      DU      PONT.  107 

noon  of  the  same  day,  the  gunboats  and  lighter  transports  were  immediately  sent 
forward,  dispersing  a  fleet  of  small  rebel  steamers,  under  Commodore  Tatnall ; 
and  a  reconnoissance  discovered  that  Hilton  Head  and  Bay  Point,  commanding 
the  entrance  to  Port  Koyal  harbor,  called  Broad  Eiver,  which  is  here  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  wide,  were  protected  by  works  of  great  strength,  scientifically 
constructed,  and  mounted  with  guns  of  heavy  calibre.  Fort  "Walker,  on  Hilton 
Head,  at  the  southerly  entrance  of  the  river,  mounted  twenty-three  pieces,  many 
of  which  were  rifled,  and  was  the  defence  mainly  relied  upon  for  the  protection 
of  the  harbor.  The  works  on  Bay  Point  comprised  Fort  Beauregard  mounting 
fifteen  guns,  and  a  battery  of  four  guns  about  half  a  mile  distant. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  the  5th,  the  Wabash  crossed  the  bar,  followed  by  the 
frigate  Susquehanna  and  the  larger  transports ;  and  another  reconnoissance,  made 
by  the  gunboats,  satisfied  the  commodore  of  the  superiority  of  Fort  Walker,  against 
which  he  determined  to  direct  his  chief  efforts.  Wednesday  being  a  stormy  day, 
the  attack  upon  the  forts  was  deferred  until  Thursday  morning,  the  7th. 

The  plan  was,  for  the  ships  to  steam  in  a  circle  or  ellipse  between  the  forts, 
running  close  to  Hilton  Head  as  they  came  down  the  river,  and  pouring  broad 
sides  into  Fort  Walker ;  and,  on  their  return,  attacking  in  a  similar  manner  Fort 
Beauregard.  The  squadron  was  drawn  up  in  two  columns,  the  larger  being 
headed  by  the  Wabash,  and  at  half-past  nine  in  the  morning  stood  into  Broad 
Eiver,  and  moved  up  past  Fort  Beauregard.  At  a  few  minutes  before  ten  the 
action  became  general,  and  for  four  hours  a  continuous  stream  of  shot  and  shell 
was  poured  upon  the  rebel  forts.  The  Wabash,  directed  by  Commodore  Du 
Pont  in  person,  was  carried  by  the  soundings  as  close  to  the  shore  as  possible, 
the  engines  working  with  barely  enough  power  to  give -her  steerage- way,  and 
proceeded  with  such  deliberation,  that  but  three  circuits  were  accomplished 
during  the  fight.  At  the  same  time  her  signals  were  given  as  regularly  as  on  an 
ordinary  occasion.  Her  heavy  guns  played  with  terrible  effect  upon  the  enemy, 
and  she  was  herself  a  prominent  target  for  the  guns  of  either  fort.  The  commo 
dore  estimated  that  he  saved  a  hundred  lives  by  keeping  under  way  and  bear 
ing  in  close,  and  subsequently  stated  that  he  never  conceived  of  such  a  fire  as 
that  of  the  Wabash  in  her  second  turn.  She  also  bore  in  great  measure  the 
brunt  of  the  enemy's  fire  ;  as,  after  the  first  circuit,  the  small  gunboats  took  their 
positions  at  discretion,  and  the  Susquehanna  and  Bienville  were  her  only  com 
panions.  At  two  o'clock,  the  enemy's  fire  began  to  slacken,  and  he  was  soon 
discovered  in  rapid  flight  from  Fort  Walker  toward  a  neighboring  wood.  At 
half-past  two,  the  work  was  occupied  by  a  party  from  the  Wabash,  and  on  the 
succeeding  morning  Fort  Beauregard  was  found  deserted  by  its  garrison.  The 
casualties  of  the  fleet  were  eight  killed  and  twenty-three  wounded ;  and  the  rebel 
loss  is  supposed  to  have  amounted  to  between  one  and  two  hundred.  In  the 


108  SAMUEL      FRANCIS     DU      PONT. 

hurry  of  their  flight  they  also  abandoned  every  thing  but  their  muskets.  This 
victory,  the  most  considerable  gained  since  the  defeat  at  Bull  Eun,  excited  uni 
versal  enthusiasm  throughout  the  loyal  states,  and  contributed  very  materially  to 
restore  confidence  in  the  ability  of  the  government  to  crush  the  rebellion,  as  well 
as  to  increase  the  eclat  which  had  attended  the  naval  operations  in  the  war. 

Commodore  Du  Pont  immediately  took  active  measures  to  follow  up  his 
success ;  and  his  fleet  has  since  been  busily  employed  in  expeditions  along  the 
coast,  or  in  co-operating  with  the  land-forces  under  General  Sherman  and  the 
other  military  officers.  During  the  year  that  he  has  commanded  the  South  At 
lantic  blockading  squadron,  the  vigilance  of  his  subordinates  has  very  materially 
checked  the  violations  of  the  blockade  so  frequent  in  the  early  part  of  the  war, 
and  numerous  captures  of  valuable  vessels  and  cargoes  have  added  to  the  re 
sources  of  the  government.  In  August,  1862,  he  was  nominated  by  the  President 
one  of  the  seven  rear-admirals  on  the  active  list  authorized  to  be  appointed  by 
act  of  Congress. 

Apart  from  his  sea-service,  which  covers  a  period  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  Admiral  Du  Pont  has  been  employed  on  shore  in  numerous  important 
public  duties  requiring  the  exercise  of  high  professional  knowledge  and  experi 
ence.  He  was  one  of  the  officers  consulted  by  Mr.  Bancroft,  when  secretary  of 
the  navy,  in  regard  to  the  formation  of  a  naval  school ;  and  a  member  of  the 
board  which  organized  the  academy  at  Annapolis  on  its  subsequent  efficient 
footing.  He  has  also  served  on  boards  convened  for  the  purpose  of  making 
codes  of  rules  and  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  service,  for  the  exami 
nation  of  midshipmen,  and  similar  purposes,  and  was  for  three  years  a  prominent 
member  of  the  lighthouse  board,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  creation  of  the 
present  system  for  lighting  the  coast.  He  also  performed  the  unwelcome  duties 
of  a  member  of  the  naval  retiring  board  of  1855.  More  important  than  any  of 
these  services,  perhaps,  were  his  investigations  with  reference  to  the  introduction 
of  floating  batteries  for  coast  defence,  which  were  embodied  in  a  report  esteemed 
of  so  much  value,  that  it  has  been  republished  separately,  and  very  generally  con 
sulted  by  officers  of  the  engineer-corps.  The  late  Lieutenant-General  Sir  Howard 
Douglas,  the  chief  English  authority  on  the  subject,  in  a  recent  edition  of  his 
standard  work  on  gunnery,  has  cited  its  opinions  and  conclusions  with  respect, 
and  styles  it  "  an  admirable  work."  The  private  as  well  as  the  public  career  of 
Admiral  Du  Pont  is  without  reproach.  "  No  man,"  said  Mr.  Clayton,  of  Delaware, 
in  the  United  States  Senate,  in  allusion  to  his  services,  "  is  more  beloved  or  hon 
ored  by  his  brother-officers  in  the  navy,  or  more  respected  as  an  accomplished 
officer,  sailor,  and  gentleman.  No  man  living  stands  in  higher  repute  wherever 
lie  is  known." 


TKOUT   GKEBLE. 

AMONG-  tlie  events  which  give  a  peculiar  sadness  to  the  early  history  of  the 
war,  was  the  ill-advised  attempt  to  drive  the  enemy  from  Great  Bethel,  on 
the  10th  of  June,  1861,  and  especially  the  fall  of  the  gallant  young  artillery  offi 
cer,  the  sacrifice  of  whose  own  life  on  that  occasion  saved  the  main  body  of  the 
attacking  force  from  entire  destruction. 

The  memory  of  this  brave  soldier  is  now  a  part  of  his  country's  inheritance. 
His  name  will  hereafter  find  an  honorable  mention  in  every  history  of  the  great 
North  American  republic.  The  following  brief  sketch  of  his  life  will  show  that 
the  deeds  which  made  his  end  illustrious,  even  amid  defeat,  were  not  the  result 
of  chance,  but  the  legitimate  fruits  of  right  principles  and  of  long  and  patient 
culture. 

JOHN  TROUT  GREBLE,  the  oldest  son  of  Edwin  and  Susan  Virginia  Greble, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia,  January  19th,  1834  The  traditions  of  the  family 
were  all  patriotic.  His  great-grandfather  on  the  paternal  side,  Andrew  Greble,  a 
native  of  Saxe  Gotha,  who  came  to  this  country  in  1742,  and  settled  permanently 
in  Philadelphia,  enlisted  warmly  in  the  cause  of  the  War  of  Independence.  He, 
with  his  four  sons,  joined  the  American  army,  and  fought  at  the  battles  of 
Princeton  and  Monmouth.  The  ancestors  of  Lieutenant  Greble  on  the  mother's 
side  were  from  Wales.  They  settled  in  Philadelphia  in  1689.  Though  belong 
ing  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  professing  the  principles  of  non-resistance,  they 
also  espoused  actively  the  cause  of  independence ;  and  two  of  them,  Isaac  Jones 
and  William  Major,  great-grandfathers  of  Lieutenant  Greble,  were  in  the  conti 
nental  army. 

The  earliest  aspirations  of  young  Greble,  so  far  as  they  are  known,  were  all 
in  keeping  with  these  early  traditions  of  the  family.  Though  living  in  a  home 
where  all  the  avocations  and  interests  were  peaceful — though  delicate  in  physical 
constitution,  and  possessed  of  a  singular  gentleness  of  disposition  and  manners, 
which  followed  him  through  life — he  yet  among  his  earliest  dreams  fondly  con 
templated  the  career  of  a  soldier ;  and  when  the  time  for  decision  came,  he  made 
a  soldier's  life  his  deliberate  choice. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  one  who  has  given  to  the  world  proofs  of  good 
ness,  wisdom,  and  valor,  it  is  instructive  and  interesting  to  know  the  influences 
which  contributed  to  the  formation  of  his  character.  No  formative  influences 


110  JOHN      TROUT      GREBLE. 

compare  with  those  which  cluster  around  one's  home.  A  man's  father,  mother, 
brothers  and  sisters,  beyond  all  other  human  agencies,  help  to  make  him  what 
he  is.  No  one  could  have  had  even  a  passing  acquaintance  with  young  Greble, 
without  feeling  an  assured  conviction  that  the  home  which  had  nurtured  him 
was  the  abode  of  the  gentler  virtues.  Next  to  home,  in  its  influence  upon  the 
character,  is  the  school.  In  early  childhood,  Greble  attended  for  a  short  time  a 
private  school  kept  by  a  lady,  where  he  learned  the  first  rudiments  of  knowledge. 
With  this  exception,  all  his  education,  outside  of  his  home,  was  received  in  pub 
lic  schools ;  first  in  those  of  his  native  city,  and  afterward  in  that  of  the  general 
government  at  West  Point.  He  entered  the  Einggold  Grammar  School  of  Phila 
delphia  at  the  age  of  eight,  and  remained  there  four  years.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
having  passed  a  successful  examination,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Central  High 
School.  There  he  remained  another  four  years.  Having  completed  the  course 
in  that  institution,  he  graduated  with  distinction  in  June,  1850,  receiving  the 
degree  of  bachelor  of  arts  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen. 

Up  to  this  point,  his  education  had  been  conducted  without  reference  to  a 
military  career.  It  had  been  his  father's  expectation,  in  due  time,  to  receive  him 
as  a  partner  in  his  own  business ;  but  when  the  time  for  selecting  a  profession 
drew  near,  he  was  so  clear  and  decided  in  his  preferences,  that  his  parents  wisely 
determined  not  to  thwart  him.  The  decision,  when  made  known,  created  some 
surprise  in  the  mind  of  the  principal  of  the  High  School,  between  whom  and 
himself  relations  of  more  than  usual  kindness  had  grown  up.  There  was  noth 
ing  in  the  appearance  or  manners  of  the  youth  to  point  him  out  to  the  mind  of 
an  instructor  as  one  likely  to  choose  the  life  of  a  soldier ;  there  was  nothing  in 
his  disposition  in  any  way  combative  or  belligerent.  He  was  never  known  to 
have  a  quarrel  with  a  schoolmate.  He  was  gentle  almost  to  softness ;  pacific 
even  to  the  yielding  of  his  own  will  and  pleasure,  in  almost  every  thing  that  did 
not  imply  a  yielding  of  principle.  His  military  taste  seemed  to  be  the  result  of 
some  peculiar  inclination  of  his  genius,  leading  him,  as  if  by  instinct,  to  his  true 
vocation. 

The  Honorable  L.  C.  Levin,  at  that  time  representative  in  Congress  from 
Mr.  Qreble's  district,  having  heard  of  the  young  man's  desire  for  a  military  life, 
and  knowing  him  to  be  a  youth  of  fine  promise,  generously  and  without  solicita 
tion,  tendered  him  a  cadetship  at  West  Point.  Having  received  the  appoint 
ment,  he  entered  the  academy  in  June,  1850,  the  very  day  but  one  after  his 
graduation  at  the  High  School.  The  letter  of  recommendation  which  he  bore 
with  him  to  the  professors  of  the  academy  is  thought  worthy  of  record  here,  be 
cause  it  shows  the  impression  he  had  made  on  the  minds  of  his  earlier  instructors, 
and  because  he  himself  always  set  a  peculiar  value  upon  it  as  comiag  from  one 
whom  he  had  learned  to  love  almost  as  a  father : 


JOHN     TROUT     GREBLE.  Ill 

"CENTRAL  HIGH  SCHOOL,  PHILADELPHIA,  June  llth,  1850. 
"  To  the  Professors  of  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point. 

"  GENTLEMEN  :  Mr.  John  T.  Greble  having  been  appointed  a  cadet  in  your 
institution,  I  beg  leave  to  commend  him  to  your  kind  consideration.  As  he  has 
been  for  four  years  under  my  care,  I  may  claim  to  know  him  well ;  and  I  recom 
mend  him  as  a  young  man  of  good  abilities  and  amiable  disposition ;  punctual 
in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  seldom  off  his  post.  In  these  whole  four  years  he 
has  lost,  I  believe,  but  two  days — one  from  sickness,  and  one  to  attend  the  fu 
neral  of  a  classmate.  He  leaves  the  High  School  with  the  unqualified  confidence 
and  respect  of  every  professor  in  it. 

"  Your  obedient  servant,  JOHN  S.  HART,  Principal" 

The  career  of  the  young  cadet  was  not  marked  by  any  thing  worthy  of  espe 
cial  record.  At  West  Point,  as  at  the  High  School,  his  habits  were  studious, 
while  his  amiable  manners  and  soldierly  conduct  won  for  him  the  friendship  of 
his  fellow-cadets  and  of  his  professors.  After  graduating  with  credit  in  June, 
1854,  he  at  once  entered  the  army,  and  was  attached  to  the  second  regiment  of 
artillery  as  brevet  second-lieutenant.  He  was  ordered  first  to  Newport  barracks, 
and  shortly  afterward  to  Tampa,  Florida,  where  part  of  his  regiment  was  sta 
tioned,  to  keep  the  Seminoles  in  order.  "While  there,  he  made  the  acquaintance 
of  the  celebrated  chief  Billy  Bowlegs.  The  latter  took  a  great  fancy  to  the  young 
lieutenant,  and,  in  testimony  of  his  admiration,  promised  him  that,  in  case  of  war 
between  the  Seminoles  and  the  whites,  the  lieutenant  should  not  be  slain  by  any 
of  his  young  warriors,  but  should  have  the  honor  of  being  killed  by  the  chief, 
Billy  Bowlegs  himself ! 

The  arduous  duties  detailed  to  Lieutenant  Greble,  in  scouring  the  everglades 
and  swamps  in  search  of  the  Indians,  brought  on  a  violent  fever.  The  disease 
not  yielding  to  medical  skill,  he  was  ordered  home,  with  the  hope  that  a  change 
of  climate  might  effect  a  cure.  From  the  effects  of  this  illness  he  never  entirely 
recovered.  Having  remained  with  his  parents  for  a  short  time,  and  before  his 
health  was  really  sufficiently  established  to  justify  a  return  to  active  duty,  he 
again  took  charge  of  a  detachment  of  recruits,  and  proceeded  with  them  to  Fort 
Myers,  in  Florida,  in  March,  1856.  He  remained  in  Florida  until  December  of 
that  year,  engaged  in  the  same  uninviting  duties  which  had  already  imperilled 
his  health — searching  swamps  and  everglades  for  stealthy  and  vindictive  foes, 
who  were  'always  near,  yet  never  to  be  seen  by  a  superior  force ;  hiding  them 
selves  in  the  water,  with  a  leaf  to  cover  the  head,  or  wrapped  up  in  the  dark 
moss  of  a  cypress  or  live-oak,  ready  to  shoot  any  unwary  white  man  who  might 
be  so  unfortunate  as  to  cross  their  hiding-place.  The  young  lieutenant  escaped 
at  length  the  perils  of  this  inglorious  warfare,  and  was  transferred  to  a  field  of 

duty  less  dangerous  and  of  much  more  importance. 
15 


112  JOHN      TROUT      GREBLE. 

In  December,  1856,  at  the  request  of  the  professors  of  "West  Point,  the  secre 
tary  of  war  ordered  Lieutenant  Greble  to  report  himself  at  the  .post  for  academic 
duty.  He  was  made  assistant  to  the  Eeverend  John  W.  French,  D.  D.,  chaplain 
of  the  post,  and  professor  of  ethics.  It  became  the  duty  of  the  assistant  professor 
to  instruct  the  cadets  in  international  and  constitutional  law,  and  in  the  constitu 
tion  of  the  United  States.  He  applied  himself  at  once  to  the  task  with  his  char 
acteristic  constancy  and  zeal.  Finding  that  the  confinement  and  sedentary  life  inci 
dent  to  his  new  duties  were  impairing  his  health,  he  twice  made  application  to  be 
placed  again  in  active  service ;  but  the  request  was  not  granted,  and  he  remained 
in  that  position  until  the  end  of  the  term  for  which  he  had  been  appointed,  a 
period  of  four  years. 

The  comparatively  tame  and  inactive  life  at  the  academy  was  not  without 
its  compensations  to  the  ardent  young  soldier.  In  the  refined  and  cultivated 
domestic  circle  which  graced  the  home  of  Professor  French,  the  assistant  found 
congenial  society.  On  the  4th  of  August,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Sarah  B., 
eldest  daughter  of  Professor  French.  Two  of  the  happiest  years  of  his  life  fol 
lowed  this  union.  In  October  of  1860,  Lieutenant  Greble  was  relieved  from  duty 
at  West  Point,  and  ordered  to  join  his  company  at  Fortress  Monroe.  His  wife 
and  children  joined  him  in  November.  In  anticipation  of  their  coming,  he  had 
fitted  up  the  homely  apartments  appropriated  to  their  use,  in  the  casemates  of 
the  fortress,  with  that  exquisite  delicacy  of  taste  which  was  one  of  his  prominent 
characteristics,  so  that  the  grim  old  walls  looked  quite  gay  and  picturesque  when 
the  youthful  family  were  assembled  beneath  their  shadow. 

About  this  time  a  circumstance  occurred,  of  no  great  magnitude,  perhaps, 
but  worthy  of  record  as  showing  Lieutenant  Greble's  generosity  of  disposition,  as 
well  as  his  sincere,  unostentatious  loyalty  to  the  government.  An  officer,  who 
had  been  his  friend  and  classmate,  had  resigned  his  commission,  with  the  view 
of  joining  the  ranks  of  the  rebel  army.  The  lieutenant,  hearing  of  this  circum 
stance,  sought  his  friend,  and  remonstrated  with  him  with  such  force  and  ur 
gency  as  to  induce  a  reconsideration.  But  a  difficulty  existed.  It  would  be 
necessary  for  his  friend  to  go  immediately  to  Washington,  and  perhaps  remain 
for  some  time  attending  to  this  business,  and  he  had  not  the  means  necessary  for 
the  journey.  Lieutenant  Greble  had  himself  barely  enough  for  his  family  ex 
penses.  Nevertheless  he  determined  that  want  of  funds  should  not  ruin  his 
friend,  and  occasion  the  loss  of  a  skilled  officer  to  the  government.  He  was  fond 
of  books,  of  which  he  had  a  fine  collection ;  and  he  was  about  to  add  to  their 
number  a  handsome  copy  of  the  "  Encyclopaedia  Britannica,"  having  already 
ordered  the  work.  But  he  now  countermanded  the  order,  and,  putting  the  sum 
which  the  work  would  cost  into  the  hands  of  his  friend,  saw  him  off  with  joy  on 
his  repentant  errand. 


JOHN      TROUT      GREBLE.  113 

The  domestic  happiness  of  Lieutenant  Greble  was  soon  to  be  interrupted, 
never  to  be  renewed.  In  April,  1861,  the  whole  nation,  at  the  call  of  their  patri 
otic  President,  sprang  suddenly  to  arms.  Large  numbers  of  troops  were  expected 
at  Fortress  Monroe,  and  of  course  all  the  quarters  would  be  needed  for  their  ac 
commodation.  Orders  were  given,  therefore,  for  the  women  and  children  to  be 
removed.  On  the  19th  of  April,  Mrs.  Greble,  with  her  two  little  ones  and  nurse, 
left  the  fortress  for  Philadelphia.  They  arrived  at  Baltimore  in  the  midst  of  that 
fearful  riot  in  which  the  soldiers  of  Massachusetts  and  Pennsylvania  were  fired 
upon  by  the  mob.  All  means  of  conveyance  northward  being  cut  off,  the  unpro 
tected  family  made  their  way  westward  through  Maryland  and  Virginia  to  Ohio, 
and  thence,  by  way  of  Pittsburg,  finally  reached  Philadelphia  in  safety. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  Lieutenant  Greble  was  detailed  with  twenty-two  regu 
lars  to  proceed  to  Newport  News  as  master  of  ordnance,  and  to  instruct  the  vol 
unteers,  who  numbered  about  three  thousand,  in  artillery  practice.  An  officer 
on  General  Butler's  staff,  in  a  letter  written  after  Lieutenant  Greble's  death,  gives 
the  following  account  of  his  conduct  at  Newport  News : 

"  I  found  him  with  his  tent  pitched  nearest  the  enemy,  in  the  most  exposed 
position,  one  of  his  own  selecting,  living  and  sleeping  by  his  gun — the  gun  which 
he  used  so  faithfully  a  few  hours  later.  His  pleasant,  open  face,  and  kind,  gentle 
manner,  won  me  from  the  first.  We  exchanged  many  little  courtesies,  and  I  was 
his  guest  and  the  object  of  his  thoughtful  and  kind  attentions.  I  never  met  with 
a  more  high-minded,  honorable  gentleman.  If,  in  this  rebellion,  we  met  with  no 
other  loss,  one  such  man  is  enough  to  render  it  an  execration  throughout  all 
time.  He  was  intent  on  robbing  war  of  half  its  horrors,  and  was  deeply  inter 
ested  in  and  co-operated  with  me  manfully  in  plans  for  checking  the  depredations 
about  the  camp  at  Newport  News.  In  this  he  displayed  a  firmness  and  moral 
courage  that  satisfied  one  of  his  manly  character,  and  made  a  strong  impression 
on  the  general.  He  spoke  of  the  possibility,  even  probability,  of  his  speedy  fall, 
with  perfect  coolness,  and  seemed  entirely  prepared  to  meet  all  the  dangers  of 
sustaining  the  flag.  I  need  not  say  to  you  how  proud  I  should  have  been  to 
have  stood  by  his  side  on  that  fatal  day ;  to  have  seconded  his  efforts ;  to  have  ' 
aided  his  friends  in  bringing  off  his  body,  as  I  am  sure  he  would  have  brought 
mine." 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  to  his  wife,  written  from  Newport  News, 
Sunday,  June  9th,  the  very  day  before  his  death,  shows  how  calm  and  serene 
was  his  mind  in  the  midst  of  the  fearful  excitement  around  him  : 

"  It  is  a  delightful  Sunday  morning.  It  has  a  Sabbath  feeling  about  it.  If 
you  had  lost  the  run  of  the  week,  such  a  day  as  to-day  would  tell  you  it  was  the 
Sabbath.  The  camp  is  unusually  quiet ;  and  its  stillness  is  broken  by  little  ex 
cept  the  organ-tones  of  some  of  the  Massachusetts  men,  who  are  on  the  beach, 


114  JOHN      TROUT      GREBLE. 

singing  devotional  airs.  Last  Sabbath  the  men  were  in  the  trenches.  To-day  is 
their  first  day  of  rest.  A  great  deal  of  work  has  been  done  during  the  past 
week,  under  unfavorable  circumstances — rainy  days.  With  very  little  additional 
labor,  our  whole  line  of  intrenchments  will  be  finished.  There  is  a  little  trim 
ming  off  to  be  done,  and  a  magazine  to  be  built ;  a  little  earth  to  be  thrown  up 
in  front  of  some  h4avy  columbiads  that  have  been  mounted,  and  some  store 
houses  to  be  built.  But  enough  has  been  done  to  allow  the  rest  to  be  completed 
by  general  details,  and  to  give  a  chance  for  drilling.  Colonel  Phelps  has  ap 
pointed  me  ordnance  officer  of  the  post.  "We  do  not  fear  an  attack ;  the  position 
is  too  strong.  I  hear  that  Davis  has  given  the  federal  troops  ten  days  to  leave 
the  soil  of  Virginia.  The  time  is  nearly  up,  but  we  are  not  quite  ready  to  move 

away I  hope  that  I  may  be  given  courage  and  good  judgment  enough  to 

do  well  my  duty  under  any  circumstances  in  which  I  may  be  placed.  As  far  as 
I  can  see,  there  is  not  much  danger  to  be  incurred  in  this  campaign  at  present. 
Both  sides  seem  to  be  better  inclined  to  talking  than  fighting.  If  talking  could 
settle  it  by  giving  the  supremacy  forever  to  the  general  government,  I  think  it 
would  be  better  than  civil  war.  But  that  talking  can  settle  it,  I  do  not  believe." 

Little  did  Lieutenant  Greble  suppose,  while  writing  this  letter,  that  an  expe 
dition  was  then  planning,  to  move  in  a  few  hours,  and  that  he  would  be  sent 
with  it.  As  ordnance  officer  of  the  post,  and  the  only  regular  artillery  officer 
there,  he  did  not  expect  to*'be  ordered  on  an  expedition,  leaving  the  armament  in 
charge  of  those  not  qualified  to  use  it  if  attacked  by  the  enemy.  But  such  was 
the  case.  An  expedition  against  Great  Bethel  had  been  determined  on ;  and, 
although  well  qualified  to  take  command  of  it,  he  was  not  even  made  aware  of  it 
until  a  few  hours  before  the  order  was  given  to  march.  When  informed  of  the 
plan  of  attack,  he  said  to  a  brother-officer:  "This  is  an  ill-advised  and  badly- 
arranged  movement.  I  am  afraid  that  no  good  will  come  of  it.  As  for  myself, 
I  do  not  think  I  shall  come  off  the  field  alive." 

Unwell  and  at  midnight,  and  with  these  gloomy  forebodings  on  his  mind,  he 
did  not  hesitate,  but  with  the  promptitude  of  a  soldier  made  preparations  to  obey 
the  orders  of  his  superior.  The  only  available  guns  at  Newport  News  were  two 
small  six-pounders,  and  for  these  he  had  no  means  of  transportation.  lie  suc 
ceeded,  however,  in  borrowing  two  mules  to  draw  one  of  the  pieces,  and  he  de 
tailed  one  hundred  volunteers  to  draw  the  other.  With  eleven  regular  artillery 
men  to  serve  the  guns,  he  started  off  with  the  rest  of  the  forces  on  the  expedition 
at  night,  to  attack  an  enemy  of  whom  no  reconnoissance  had  been  made,  either 
in  regard  to  their  force  or  position. 

The  particulars  of  this  ill-starred  expedition  are  but  too  well  known,  and 
need  not  be  repeated  here.  Lieutenant  Greble,  being  considerably  in  advance 
of  the  main  body,  with  one  of  his  guns,  heard  firing  in  the  rear  from  the  other 


JOHN      TROUT      GREBLE.  115 

gun,  which  was  in  charge  of  his  sergeant.  Knowing  that  there  could  be  no  ene 
my  there,  he  galloped  back,  and  found,  as  he  had  suspected,  our  own  forces  by  a 
fatal  mistake  firing  on  each  other.  He  immediately  ordered  the  firing  to  cease, 
and  when  he  saw  the  dead  and  wounded  around  him,  exclaimed  that  he  would 
rather  have  been  shot  himself  than  that  such  a  disaster  and  disgrace  should  have 
befallen  our  arms.  The  result  of  this  fatal  error  it  was  easy  to  conjecture.  The 
enemy  were  notified  of  the  approach  of  the  federal  troops,  and,  hastily  retiring 
from  Little  Bethel,  which  it  was  intended  to  surprise,  prepared  for  a  vigorous 
defence  of  their  works  at  Great  Bethel. 

Order  being  restored,  the  attacking  party  again  began  to  move  forward. 
Lieutenant  Greble  returned  to  his  gun,  which  was  in  the  advance  with  Duryea's 
Zouaves.  As  they  approached  Great  Bethel,  a  concealed  battery  opened  fire 
upon  them.  Lieutenant  Greble  immediately  unlimbered  his  guns,  and  took 
position  in  tl^e  open  road,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  enemy, 
firing  his  guns  alternately,  and  moving  them  forward  at  each  discharge,  until  he 
was  within  one  hundred  yards  of  their  battery.  In  this  firing,  he  sighted  the 
pieces  each  time  himself,  remaining  as  cool  as  if  on  parade.  So  accurate  and 
effective  was  his  firing,  that  he  succeeded  in  silencing  all  of  their  guns  but  one,  a 
rifled  cannon.  The  Zouaves,  and  Bendix's  regiment,  by  whom  he  was  supported, 
were  lying  close  to  the  ground  in  the  woods,  waiting  the  order  to  storm  the  ene 
my's  work ;  but  no  general  was  to  be  found,  to  give  the  order.  In  the  other  part 
of  the  field  our  troops  had  been  repulsed,  and  were  in  full  retreat.  It  was  a 
critical  and  awful  moment.  There,  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  and  within  a  hun 
dred  yards  of  their  intrenchments,  stood  this  young  artillerist  with  his  two  guns 
and  but  eleven  men,  keeping  the  entire  hostile  force  at  bay,  and  by  his  cool  intre 
pidity  and  skill  preventing  a  general  rush  upon  the  retreating  ranks.  For  two 
whole  hours  he  kept  up  his  fire,  and  whenever  the  enemy  attempted  a  sortie, 
drove  them  back  with  a  shower  of  grape.  One  of  his  guns,  having  expended  all 
its  ammunition  but  a  single  discharge  of  grape,  was  ordered  into  the  rear ;  and 
the  volunteers,  who  were  to  have  been  his  support,  were  scattered  by  the  enemy's 
grape  and  shell,  so  that  he  was  left  with  but  one  gun  and  five  men.  Still  the 
brave  artillerist  held  his  ground.  Seeing  the  battle  virtually  lost,  an  officer  went 
to  him  and  begged  him  to  retreat,  or  at  least  to  dodge  as  the  others  did.  His 
reply  was  characteristic :  "I  NEVER  DODGE !  When  I  hear  the  bugle  sound  a  re 
treat,  I  loill  leave,  and  not  before.11  Not  many  minutes  after  these  noble  words 
were  spoken,  as  he  was  standing  by  his  gun,  a  ball  from  the  rifled  cannon  before 
mentioned  struck  him  on  the  right  side  of  the  head,  when  he  fell,  exclaiming, 
"  O  my  God !"  and  immediately  expired. 

Thus  ended  the  earthly  career  of  one  of  the  most  promising  officers  in  our 
national  service.  His  death,  just  at  the  time  when  courage,  patriotism,  and  mili- 


116  JOHN      TROUT      GREBLE. 

tary  skill  were  most  needed,  was  a  public  calamity,  and  was  mourned  as  such. 
During  the  whole  of  the  engagement,  his  conduct  was  the  admiration  of  all  who 
saw  him.  An  officer,  who  was  in  a  position  to  observe  him,  remarked :  "  He 
kept  up  during  the  entire  action  a  galling  and  successful  fire  upon  the  enemy's 
battery ;  and,  although  grape,  shell,  and  solid  shot  rained  all  around  him,  he  was 
as  quiet  and  gentle  in  manner  and  spirit  as  if  in  a  lady's  drawing-room."  He 
never,  under  any  circumstances,  was  otherwise. 

Upon  the  fall  of  ^ieutenant  Greble,  the  guns  were  abandoned,  and  the  whole 
remaining  force  retreated.  But  Lieutenant-Colonel  Warren  and  Captain  Wilson, 
rallying  a  few  men,  placed  the  body  of  the  brave  young  officer  on  the  gun  which 
he  had  served  so  well,  and  brought  them  safely  off  to  Newport  News.  On  reach 
ing  Fortress  Monroe,  the  body  was  placed  in  a  metallic  coffin,  which  had  been 
procured  for  the  purpose  by  the  officers  at  the  fortress,  and  was  thence  sent  by 
boat  to  his  friends  at  Philadelphia.  * 

The  narrative  of  this  fatal  battle  leaves  no  doubt  that  Lieutenant  Greble 
deliberately  sacrificed  his  own  life  to  save  the  lives  of  a  large  number  of  his  coun 
trymen.  His  practised  eye  saw  at  a  glance  the  position  of  affairs ;  he  saw  our 
forces  defeated  and  in  full  retreat,  and  an  exultant  foe  eager  to  pursue  and  cut 
them  to  pieces.  Once,  indeed,  they  made  the  attempt.  As  soon  as  he  saw  them 
outside  of  their  intrenchments,  he  quickly  remarked  to  an  officer  of  the  Zouaves, 
''  Now  I  have  something  to  fire  at ;  see  how  they  will  scamper !"  Deliberately 
aiming  his  gun  at  them,  loaded  with  grape,  he  discharged  it  full  among  them. 
So  precise  was  the  shot,  that  they  instantly  disappeared  behind  their  intrench 
ments,  and  were  not  seen  a  second  time.  Had  Lieutenant  Greble  retreated,  or 
"  dodged,"  as  he  was  requested  to  do,  the  effect  would  have  been  to  intimidate 
the  few  troops  that  remained  with  him,  and  to  allow  the  enemy  to  cut  off  the 
retreat. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Warren,  who  was  with  him  in  this  action,  bears  the  fol 
lowing  testimony  to  Lieutenant  Greble's  conduct :  "I  was  near  him  during  much 
of  the  engagement  between  the  two  forces,  and  can  testify  to  his  undaunted 
bravery  in  the  action,  and  to  the  skill  and  success  with  which  his  guns  were 
served.  His  efficiency  alone  prevented  our  loss  from  being  thrice  what  it  was, 
by  preventing  the  opposing  batteries  from  sweeping  the  road  along  which  we 
marched ;  and  the  impression  which  he  made  on  the  enemy  deterred  them  from 
pursuing  our  retreating  forces,  hours  after  he  had  ceased  to  live." 

In  his  pocket  was  found  a  paper,  written  apparently  after  he  had  started 
on  this  ill-fated  expedition.  It  was  scrawled  hastily  in  pencil,  and  intended 
for  his  young  wife.  It  was  in  these  words :  "  May  God  bless  you,  my  darling, 
and  grant  you  a  happy  and  peaceful  life.  May  the  good  Father  protect  you 
and  me,  and  grant  that  we  may  live  happily  together  long  lives.  God  give 


JOHN      TROUT      GREBLE.  117 

me  strength,  wisdom,  and  courage.  If  I  die,  let  me  die  as  a  brave  and  honor 
able  man ;  let  no  stain  of  dishonor  hang  over  me  or  you.  Devotedly  and  with 
my  whole  heart,  your  husband.  What  a  priceless  heir-loom  must  "that  scrawled 
paper  be  to  the  widowed  mother  and  her  babes !  A  letter,  also  found  in  his  pos 
session,  ran  thus :  "  It  is  needless,  my  son,  for  me  to  say  to  you,  be  true  to  the 
stars  and  stripes.  The  blood  of  Revolutionary  patriots  runs  in  your  veins,  and  it 
must  all  be  drawn  out  before  you  cease  to  fight  for  your  country  and  its  laws." 
So  wrote  a  loyal  father  to  a  loyal  son,  not  many  days  before  that  bloody  10th  of 
June.  Well  might  the  native  city  of  such  a  sire  and  such  a  son  ask  as  a  privi 
lege  that  the  body  of  the  young  hero  be  laid  in  state  in  the  Hall  of  Independence ! 
Lieutenant  Greble  was  buried  in  the  beautiful  Woodland  cemetery,  to  which 
place  his  remains  were  escorted  by  the  city  authorities,  the  faculty  and  students 
of  the  High  School,  a  large  body  of  military  and  naval  officers,  and  an  immense 
concourse  of  citizens.  The  character  of  this  young  man  stands  out  so  clearly  in 
his  life,  that  it  needs  no  separate  delineation.  It  was  thus  beautifully  summed 
up  on  the  occasion  of  his  funeral,  by  his  pastor,  the  Eev.  Dr.  Brainerd : 

"Few  have  passed  to  the  grave  whose  whole  life  could  better  bear  inspec 
tion,  or  who  presented  fewer  defects  over  which  we  have  need  to  throw  a  mantle 
of  charity.  In  his  family  circle,  in  the  Sunday-school,  in  the  High  School  where 
he  graduated,  as  a  cadet  at  West  Point,  and  as  an  officer  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  up  to  the  very  hour  when  he  bravely  fell,  he  has  exhibited  a  life  marked 
by  the  purest  principles  and  the  most  guarded  and  exemplary  deportment.  In 
his  nature  he  was  modest,  retiring,  gentle,  of  almost  feminine  delicacy,  careful  to 
avoid  wounding  the  feelings  of  any,  and  considerate  of  every  obligation  to  all 
around  him.  Indeed,  such  was  his  amiability,  modesty,  and  delicacy  of  tem 
perament,  that  we  might  almost  have  questioned  the  existence  in  him  of  the 
sterner  virtues,  had  not  his  true  and  unshrinking  courage  in  the  hour  of  danger 
stamped  him  with  an  heroic  manliness.  In  this  view  of  qualities  seemingly  anti 
thetical,  we  discover  that  beautiful  symmetry  in  his  character  which  marks  him 
as  a  model  man  of  his  class." 

Among  the  many  official  testimonials  to  the  services  and  the  worth  of  Lieu 
tenant  Greble,  none  would  seem  to  form  a  more  fitting  conclusion  to  this  brief 
memoir  than  the  following : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  army  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Virginia,  on 
the  llth  of  June,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  relative  to  the  lamented 
death  of  John  T.  Greble,  late  a  first-lieutenant  of  the  second  regiment  United 
States  artillery,  who  was  killed  in  battle  at  County  Creek,  near  this  post,  on  the 
10th  instant : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  heroic  death  of  this  gallant  officer  fills  us  all  with  admi 
ration  and  regret.  Standing  at  his  piece,  in  the  open  road,  in  front  of  the  ene- 


118  JOHN     TROUT      GREBLE. 

my's  battery,  till  shot  down,  he  served  it  with  the  greatest  coolness  and  iaost 
undaunted  courage. 

"Resolved,  That,  while  deploring  his  untimely  end,  and  feeling  that  his  loss 
to  his  country  is  great,  and  to  his  family  and  friends  irreparable,  still  a  death  so 
glorious  can  but  tend  to  lighten  the  burden  of  grief  to  all. 

"Resolved,  That,  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  the 
officers  of  the  army  stationed  at  this  post  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for 
thirty  days. 

"Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolutions  be  furnished  to  his 
family. 

"J.  DIMICK,  Colonel  U.  S.  A." 


THOMAS   JONATHAN    JACKSON. 

THOMAS  JONATHAN  JACKSON,  familiarly  known  as  "  Stonewall  " 
Jackson,  was  born  in  Clarksburgh,  Harrison  County,  Ya.,  January  twenty- 
first,  1824.  His  great-grandfather  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  emigrated  to 
the  western  portion  of  Virginia,  Edward  Jackson,  grandfather  of  "Stonewall,1' 
was  surveyor  of  and  represented  Lewis  County  for  a  time  in  the  Virginia  Legisla 
ture.  Jonathan  Jackson,  father  of  the  General,  practised  law  at  Clarksburgh, 
where  he  married  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Neal.  He  became  pecuniarily  involved, 
and  when  he  died  in  1827  left  his  children  —  four  in  number,  two  sons  and  two 
(laughters  —  penniless.  Thomas  was  at  that  time  but  three  years  of  age,  and  the 
youngest.  He  was  soon  after  taken  to  the  house  of  an  uncle  in  Lewis  County, 
where  he  remaine^  until  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  labored  fcpon  the  farm  in  summer 
and  attended  school  in  the  winter ;  there  acquiring  the  rudiments  of  an  English 
education.  His  orphan  condition  excited  the  sympathy  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
every  assistance  was  rendered  him  to  carve  out  his  own  pathway  in  life.  As  a  proof 
of  this  sympathy  he  was  elected  constable  of  the  county  of  Lewis  at  the  early  age 
of  sixteen.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  set  out  for  Washington  on  foot  to  obtain 
an  appointment  as  cadet  in  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  "West-Point, 
in  which  he  succeeded  through  the  influence  of  some  political  friends.  He  entered 
the  Academy  in  1842,  and  in  July,  1846,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he  graduated 
with  distinction,  was  appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant  and  immediately  ordered 
to  report  for  duty  in  Mexico  under  General  Taylor.  In  August,  1847,  he  was 
made  First  Lieutenant  of  Artillery  ;  breveted  captain  "for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  in  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,"  August,  1848,  and  brevet 
ed  Major  "for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  in  the  battle  of  Chapultepec," 
March,  1849.  His  health  became  so  impaired  by  the  climate  that  he  was  unable  to 
discharge  his  duties,  and,  on  the  conclusion  of  peace,  resigned  his  commission  Feb 
ruary  twenty-ninth,  1852.  Upon  his  return  to  Virginia,  he  obtained  a  professor 
ship  in  the  Virginia  Military  Institute,  and  continued  in  that  position  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion.  Soon  after  entering  upon  his  professorship  he 
married  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Junkin,  Principal  of  Washington  College.  This 
lady  and  her  children  died,  and  he  subsequently  married  Miss  Morrison,  of  North- 
Carolina,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  an  infant  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
Upon  the  secession  of  Virginia  he  was  commissioned  Colonel,  and  proceeded  to 


120  THOMAS      JONATHAN      JACKSON. 

•  . 

Harper's  Ferry,  there  taking  command  of  the  small  "army  of  observation  "  on  the 
third  of  May,  1861.  Upon  the  approach  of  his  troops  Lieutenant  Jones,  com 
manding  the  National  forces,  evacuated  the  place,  which  was  immediately  occu 
pied  by  the  Virginia  troops.  He  remained  in  this  position  until  May  twenty- 
third,  when  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston  arrived  and  took  command.  He  was 
subsequently  made  Brigadier-General,  and  upon  Johnston's  retreat  from  Harper's 
Ferry  to  Winchester,  induced  by  the  advance  under  General  Patterson,  acted 
as  General  Johnston's  rear-guard,  and  fought  his  first  battle  of  the  war  at  Fall 
ing  Waters  in  June.  It  was  while  in  command  in  the  Valley,  under  Johnston, 
that  he  organized  the  First  brigade,  which  at  the  battle  of  Manassas  or  Bull  Run, 
gained  the  sobriquet,  from  its  leader,  of  "  the  stonewall  brigade."  It  consisted  of  the 
Second,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Twenty-seventh,  and  Thirty-third  Virginia  regiments,  was 
two  thousand  six  hundred  and  eleven  strong,  and  comprised  the  flower  of  the 
young  men  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  Jackson's  was  the  brigade  in  advance 
of  Johnston's  reinforcements  to  Beauregard  prior  to  the  battle  of  Manassas,  and  par 
ticipated  in  the  engagement  of  July  twenty-first,  1861,  first  on  the  left,  and,  near  the 
close  of  the  conflict,  in  the  centre.  It  is  claimed  that  the  charge  of  this  brigade 
pierced  the  Union  centre  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  was  the  initial 
cause  of  the  subsequent  rout  of  the  National  forces,  thus  forming  the  turning-point 
of  the  contest.  General  Bee,  another  brigade  commander,  at  the  critical  moment 
when  the  fortunes  of  the  day  seemed  wavering,  and  it  was  feared  that  all  would 
be  lost  by  reason  of  the  overpowering  reinforcements  which  were  being  sent  for 
ward  by  the  Nationals,  met  General  Jackson,  and  said  bitterly :  "  General,  they 
are  beating  us  back."  General  Jackson  replied,  after  a  moment's  pause  :  "  Sir,  we 
will  give  them  the  bayonet."  Bee  galloped  back  to  his  command,  and  called  out 
to  his  men,  pointing  to  Jackson  :  "  There  is  Jackson,  standing  like  a  stone  wall. 
Let  us  determine  to  die  here  and  we  will  conquer  !  Follow  me  !"  The  charge 
was  made,  and,  being  supported  by  reinforcements  under  Kirby  Smith,  was  suc 
cessful.  During  this  engagement  General  Jackson  was  wounded 'in  the  hand.  It 
was  this  remark  of  General  Bee  which  gave  to  the  brigade  and  to  its  commander 
the  distinctive  appellation  of  "  Stonewall,"  which  it  and  he  ever  after  bore. 

After  the  battle  of  Manassas,  General  Jackson  remained  with  his  brigade  near 
Centreville  until  the  early  part  of  October.  In  September  he  was  advanced  to 
the  grade  of  Major- General,  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  troops  in  and 
around  Winchester,  Va.  On  the  fourth  of  October  General  Jackson  took  leave  of 
his  old  brigade,  concluding  his  address  with  the  following  language :  "  In  the  army 
of  the  Shenandoah  you  were  the  First  brigade !  In  the  army  of  the  Potomac  you 
were  the  First  brigade  !  In  the  Second  corps  of  the  army  you  are  the  First  bri 
gade.  You  are  the  First  brigade  in  the  affections  of  your  General ;  and  I  hope 
by  your  future  deeds  and  bearing  you  will  be  handed  down  to  posterity  as  the 


THOMAS      J  0  X  A  T  II  A  X      J  A  C  K  S  0  N  .  121 

First  brigade  in  this  our  second  war  of  independence.  Farewell !"  His  brigade 
was  returned  to  him  near  Kernstown  in  November. 

January  first,  1862,  General  Jackson  sent  an  expedition  to  Bath  and  Komney, 
the  Nationals  falling  back  before  it.  The  march  was  attended  with  the  most  severe 
privations ;  for  the  men,  deceived  by  the  mildness  of  the  weather  on  their  depart 
ure,  divested  themselves  of  their  blankets  and  overcoats,  and  were  overtaken, 
thus  unprovided,  by  one  of  the  most  severe  storms  of  snow  and  most  intense 
cold.  Notwithstanding  these  privations  and  sufferings,  Jackson  pushed  forward 
and  accomplished  the  object  of  his  movement.  He  subsequently  fell  back  to 
Winchester,  and  remained  comparatively  inactive  during  the  winter.  Owing  to 
a  forward  movement  of  the  National  forces,  under  General  Shields,  General  Jack 
son  evacuated  Winchester  March  eleventh.  He  continued  his  movement  up  the 
valley  until  March  twenty-second,  when,  learning  that  the  Union  forces  had 
evacuated  Strasburgh,  he  rapidly  retraced  his  steps,  meeting  them  at  Kernstown, 
two  miles  south  of  Winchester,  March  twenty-fourth.  An  engagement  ensued, 
which  was  terminated  by  the  approach  of  night,  and  General  Jackson  failed  to 
regain  possession  of  Winchester.  He  did,  however,  succeed  in  preventing  a  junc 
tion  of  General  Banks's  command  with  other  forces,  which  is  asserted  to  have  been 
his  main  object. 

After  this  engagement  General  Jackson  retreated  toward  Harrisonburgh, 
pursued  by  the  Union  army  under  Banks.  With  a  view  of  defeating  the  inten 
tions  of  the  latter  to  move  upon  Staunton,  Jackson  so  disposed  of  his  forces  as  to 
bring  about  an  engagement  with  General  Milroy  at  McDowell  May  eighth,  which 
prevented  his  junction  with  General  Banks,  and,  it  is  claimed,  defeated  the  in 
tentions  of  the  latter  as  regarded  Staunton.  May  seventeenth,  General  Jackson 
returned  toward  Harrisonburgh,  and  effected  a  junction  with  Ewell  near  New- 
Market.  Thence  he  moved  down  the  valley,  fighting  at  Front  Eoyal  on  the 
twenty-third  and  twenty-fourth,  and  rapidly  pursuing  the  retreating  forces  of 
General  Banks  through  Winchester  and  Bunker  Hill  to  Charlestown  and  Hall- 
town.  The  pursuit  was  here  checked,  and  on  the  thirty -first  General  Jackson,  in 
consequence  of  the  position  of  the  National  forces  threatening  his  line  of  com 
munications,  again  retraced  his  steps  up  the  valley.  June  first,  General  Jackson's 
outposts  were  attacked  by  Fremont  near  Strasburgh.  General  Ewell  having  joined 
him,  Jackson  continued  his  retreat  in  the  evening  toward  Harrisonburgh.  On 
the  sixth,  the  battle  of  Cross-Keys  was  fought,  in  which  General  Ashby  was 
killed.  He  was  a  most  valuable  aid  to  the  rebel  commander,  and  his  loss  was 
sincerely  mourned  by  him.  On  the  ninth,  an  engagement  took  place  at  Port 
Republic ;  and  on  the  twelfth,  Jackson  recrossed  South  Eiver  and  encamped 
near  Weyer's  Cave,  where  he  remained  until  the  seventeenth,  when  he  took  up 
his  inarch  for  a  new  field  of  operations — the  Chickahominy. 


122  THOMAS      JONATHAN      JACKSON. 

Thus  had  the  rebel  commander  swept  up  and  down  the  Valley  of  the  She- 
nandoah,  alternately  retreating  from  before  and  pursuing  the  National  forces. 
Born  in  the  valley,  he  was  familiar  with  all  its  paths.  He  saw  from  the  first  the 
importance  that  region  bore  to  the  success  of  the  rebel  cause,  and  strove  his  best 
to  preserve  it  from  the  possession  of  the  Union  forces.  In  a  letter  dated  March 
third,  1862,  he  expressed  his  military  conviction  :  "  If  this  valley  is  lost,  Virginia 
is  lost,"  All  his  plans  were  laid  with  a  view  to  securing  this  important  region. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  June  General  Jackson  reached  the  vicinity  of  Ash 
land,  sixteen  miles  from  Eichmond.  General  McClellan  was  then  within  four 
or  five  miles  of  Eichmond.  Jackson,  on  the  twenty -seventh  of  June,  made  the 
attack  upon  Cold  Harbor,  which  was  successful  in  driving  in  the  position  of  the 
Federal  forces.  This  engagement  resulted  in  a  retrograde  movement,  in  which 
the  famous  "seven  days'  battles"  were  fought.  Jackson  participated  in  these 
and  in  the  battle  at  Malvern  Hills.  Immediately  subsequent  to  this,  he  was 
made  a  Lieutenant-General.  When  General  Pope  had  advanced  as  far  as  the 
Eapidan,  and  wras  threatening  the  rebel  depot  at  Gordonsville,  Jackson  was 
despatched  to  check  him,  and  on  the  ninth  of  August  the  battle  of  Cedar  Eun 
was  fought.  The  rebels  remained  in  position  in  front  of  the  field  of  battle  until 
the  eleventh,  when  they  fell  back  to  Gordonsville.  As  soon  as  Lee  satisfied  him 
self  that  General  McClellan  was  evacuating  the  Peninsula  he  put  his  troops  in 
motion  to  attack  Pope  before  he  could  be  reenforced.  General  Jackson  led  the 
advance,  and  the  Nationals  slowly  retired  before  him.  On  the  twenty-sixth,  Jack 
son  reached  the  vicinity  of  Manassas,  thus  gaining  the  rear  of  the  Union  troops. 
On  the  twenty-seventh,  the  battle  of  Manassas  was  fought,  and  the  town  with  all 
its  valuable  stores  was  destroyed.  General  Jackson,  having  accomplished  this, 
fell  back  slowly  to  within  supporting  distance  of  Longstreet.  "When  he  came  up 
an  engagement  ensued  which  nightfall  terminated.  The  next  day  the  battle 
was  resumed,  the  entire  rebel  army,  under  General  Lee,  engaging  the  whole 
Union  forces.  The  battle  raged  the  entire  day,  and  at  sunset  the  next  day  the 
Nationals  were  in  retreat  toward  Centreville.  Jackson  pursued,  when  an  engage 
ment  took  place  at  Ox  Eun,  (Chantilly,)  where  the  gallant  Kearny  was  killed. 
That  night  the  Union  army  retreated  within  the  defences  of  Washington,  and  fur 
ther  pursuit  ceased. 

General  Jackson,  upon  the  subsequent  invasion  of  Maryland,  arrived  at  Lees- 
burgh  September  fourth,  and  on  the  fifth  effected  the  passage  of  the  Potomac  at 
White's  Ford.  Thence  he  pushed  on  to  Frederick  City.  On  the  eighth,  the 
rebel  army  having  crossed  into  Maryland,  Jackson  was  despatched  to  seize  Har 
per's  Ferry,  recrossed  the  Potomac  on  the  eleventh,  and  on  the  twelfth  invested 
the  place,  which  was  surrendered  on  the  fifteenth.  An  engagement  took  place 
at  Boonsboro  on  the  fourteenth,  and  the  battle  of  Antietam  on  the  seventeenth. 


THOMAS     JONATHAN      JACKSON.  123 

On  the  eighteenth  and  nineteenth,  the  rebel  army  recrossed  the  Potomac,  and  thus 
ended  the  first  invasion  of  Maryland.  The  fruits  of  the  surrender  at  Harper's 
Ferry  were  looked  upon  by  the  Southern  leaders  as  more  than  counterbalancing 
their  losses  upon  the  soil  of  Maryland. 

The  month  of  October  was  passed  by  Jackson's  corps  in  the  Valley  of  the 
Shenandoah ;  here  it  remained  until  about  the  first  of  December,  when  it  was 
summoned  to  Fredericksburgh.  On  December  eleventh  the  National  army  shelled 
the  town  of  Fredericksburgh,  and  the  next  day  the  battle  was  fought,  in  which 
Jackson  took  an  active  part.  After  this  battle  he  went  into  retirement  at  Moss 
Neck,  where  he  was  engaged  during  the  remainder  of  the  winter  and  the  ensuing 
spring  in  the  preparation  of  his  official  despatches. 

At  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  on  the  second  of  May,  1863,  General  Jack 
son  was  mortally  wounded,  the  circumstances  of  which  were  as  follows  :  He  had 
ordered  A.  P.  Hill  to  advance,  and  himself  had  hastened  forward  to  view  the 
line  of  battle.  He  was  in  the  line  of  fire  from  the  Federal  sharp-shooters,  and 
his  position  was  esteemed  so  dangerous  that  one  of  his  staff  said  to  him  :  "  Don't 
you  think  this  is  the  wrong  place  for  you  ?"  He  replied  quickly  :  "  The  danger 
is  all  over;  the  enemy  is  routed.  Go  back  and  tell  Hill  to  press  right  on." 
Soon  after  giving  this  order  Jackson  turned  and  rode  back,  accompanied  by  his 
staff  and  escort.  Hill  was  making  his  advance  in  and  on  each  side  of  the 
road,  being  prevented  from  the  dense  wilderness  from  moving  in  line  of  battle. 
He  was  instructed  to  reserve  his  fire  "  unless  cavalry  approached  from  the  direc 
tion  of  the  enemy."  In  the  darkness,  the  escort  of  General  Jackson  was  mistaken 
for  Federal  cavalry  charging,  and  the  regiments  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  road 
fired  a  sudden  volley  into  them,  killing  three  and  mortally  wounding  General 
Jackson.  The  General  received  a  ball  in  his  left  arm,  below  the  shoulder-joint, 
shattering  the  bone  and  severing  the  chief  artery ;  a  second  passed  through  the 
same  arm  between  the  elbow  and  the  wrist,  making  its  exit  through  the  palm  of 
the  hand  ;  a  third  ball  entered  the  palm  of  the  right  hand,  about  the  middle,  and 
passing  through,  broke  two  of  the  bones.  He  fell  from  his  horse  and  was  caught 
by  an  aid,  remarking:  "All  my  \vounds  are  by  my  own  men."  The  firing  was 
responded  to  by  the  National  troops,  who  advanced,  charging  over  General 
Jackson's  body.  He  was  not  recognized  however,  and  the  Union  troops  being 
driven  back  in  turn,  he  was  rescued.  He  was  borne  from  the  field,  leaving  strict 
injunctions  that  the  troops  should  not  be  told  that  he  was  wounded. 

General  Jackson  remained  at  Wilderness  Eun  during  the  engagement  of  the 
next  day.  Amputation  was  performed,  after  which  he  rallied,  and  in  conversa 
tion  said  :  "  If  I  had  not  been  wounded,  or  had  had  one  hour  more  of  daylight,  I 
would  have  cut  off  the  enemy  from  the  road  to  United  States  Ford ;  we  would 
have  had  them  entirely  surrounded,  and  they  would  have  been  obliged  to  surren- 


124  THOMAS      JONATHAN      JACKSON. 

der  or  cut  their  way  out  —  they  had  no  other  alternative.  My  troops  may  some 
times  fail  in  driving  an  enemy  from  a  position ;  but  the  enemy  always  fails  to 
drive  my  men  from  a  position."  During  the  day  he  received  a  note  from  General 
Lee,  expressing  regrets  that  he  was  wounded,  and  congratulating  him  upon  the 
victory  "  which  is  due  to  your  skill  and  energy."  He  remained  at  Wilderness 
Eun  until  the  third,  when  he  was  removed  to  Guinness's  Station,  where  he  died 
on  the  tenth.  His  wounds  had  progressed  favorably,  but  pneumonia  supervened, 
caused  by  a  fall  from  his  litter,  as  he  was  borne  from  the  field,  in  consequence  of 
one  of  his  bearers  having  been  shot  down. 

Just  previous  to  his  death  he  said :  "I  consider  these  wounds  a  blessing ; 
they  were  given  me  for  some  good  and  wise  purpose,  and  I  would  not  part  with 
them  if  I  could."  Mrs.  Jackson  was  with  him  in  his  last  moments.  She  informed 
him  that  he  was  about  to  die,  and  his  reply  was  :  "  Very  good,  very  good  ;  it  is 
all  right !"  He  expressed  a  wish  to  be  buried  in  "  Lexington,  in  the  Valley  of 
Virginia."  Among  the  last  words  which  escaped  his  lips  were,  "  A.  P.  Hill,  pre 
pare  for  action  !"  His  remains  were  taken  to  Richmond  where  imposing  funeral 
services  were  held,  after  which  his  body  was  carried  to  Lexington  for  interment. 

The  death  of  Stonewall  Jackson  was  universally  mourned  throughout  the 
Southern  States.  His  loss  was  felt  to  be  irreparable,  and  General  Lee  expressed 
the  most  poignant  sorrow  at  his  demise.  At  the  North,  his  removal  was  not  made 
the  occasion  of  rejoicing,  for  even  his  foes  had  learned  to  respect  and  revere  a  man 
who  had  exhibited  such  indomitable  courage  and  skill  in  the  conduct  of  the  part 
allotted  to  him.  He  was  considered  in  the  light  of  one  who  had  thrown  his  whole 
soul  upon  an  idea,  and  that  idea  that  his  State  was  in  peril,  and  that  he  must 
fight  to  save  it.  He  gave  his  services  in  the  beginning  of  the  war  for  his  beloved 
State,  and  shed  his  life-blood  upon  her  "  sacred  soil." 

Personally,  General  Jackson  was  tall,  awkward,  and,  in  his  movements,  con 
strained  and  ungraceful.  He  was  absent-minded  ;  would  pause  suddenly  and  fix 
his  eyes  upon  the  ground  ;  and  in  riding  had  a  habit  of  slapping  his  side  and  rais 
ing  his  arm  aloft.  He  talked  little  with  strangers,  and  was  brief  of  speech,  but 
never  failed  to  recognize  the  salute  of  the  humblest  person.  His  military  plans 
were  always  veiled  in  mystery ;  indeed,  it  is  said  that  he  never  told  them  to 
any  one,  not  even  to  his  brigadiers  and  aids.  On  one  occasion  he  remarked : 
"  Mystery  mystery  is  the  secret  of  success  !"  General  Jackson  was  an  eminently 
devout  man,  and  on  all  occasions  recognized  the  interposition  of  Providence  in  his 
successes.  He  took  occasion  frequently  to  appoint  periods  of  thanksgiving  and 
prayer  throughout  his  army. 

His  bravery  was  never  questioned.  While  in  Mexico,  a  battery  of  the  ene 
my  was  pouring  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell  down  a  road  along  which  he  wished  his 


THOMAS      JO  NAT  II  AX      JACKSON.  125 

men  to  advance.  They  remained  under  cover,  afraid  to  venture.  Seeing  this, 
Jackson  advanced  to  the  road  and  calmly  walking  up  and  down  among  the  plung 
ing  shot  and  shell,  called  out  coolly :  "  Come  on — this  is  nothing  ;  yon  see  they 
can't  hurt  me."  This  coolness  on  the  battle-field  did  not  desert  him  in  after 
life,  and  during  the  war  he  inspired  his  troops  with  the  same  indomitable  courage 
and  bravery.  All  who  had  ever  been  under  his  command  would  not  hesitate  to 
follow  wherever  he  led. 

From  an  early  period  in  the  rebellion  he  had  looked  upon  the  invasion  of 
the  North  as  one  of  the  surest  means  of  ending  the  war,  and  long  before  General 
Lee  invaded  Maryland  Jackson  seems  to  have  formed  a  similar  plan  even  with  the 
handful  of  troops  he  then  had  under  his  command.  It  is  said  that  when  the  Po 
tomac  was  finally  crossed  in  August,  1862,  General  Jackson  halted  his  command 
in  the  middle  of  the  river  and  took  off  his  hat  while  his  bands  played  "  Maryland, 
my  Maryland."  While  in  that  State,  on  one  occasion  the  ladies  crowded  around 
him  and  cut  every  button  from  his  coat.  He  remarked  :  "  Ladies,  this  is  the  first 
time  I  was  ever  surrounded." 

Colonel  Ford,  a  Federal  officer  who  was  taken  prisoner  at  Harper's  Ferry,  re 
lates  the  following  anecdote  :  "  An  orderly  rode  up  while  we  were  conversing,  and 
said  to  Jackson  :  '  I  am  ordered  by  General  McLaws  to  report  to  you  that  McClel- 
lan  is  within  six  miles  with  an  immense  army.'  Jackson  asked:  'Has  General 
McClellan  any  baggage-train  or  drove  of  cattle  ?'  The  reply  was  that  he  had. 
Jackson  remarked  that  he  could  whip  any  army  that  was  followed  by  a  drove  of 
cattle,  alluding  to  the  hungry  condition  of  his  men." 

He  was  exceedingly  modest.  The  publishers  of  a  Southern  illustrated 
journal  wrote  to  him,  requesting  his  daguerreotype  for  an  engraving  and  some 
notes  of  his  battles  for  a  biographical  sketch.  He  wrote  in  reply  that  he  had  no 
picture  of  himself  and  had  never  done  any  thing. 

General  Jackson  wore  a  sun-browned  coat  of  gray  cloth,  cavalry  boots  reaching 
to  the  knee,  and  his  head  was  covered  by  a  cap  much  faded,  which  tilted  so  far 
over  his  forehead  that  he  was  compelled  to  raise  his  chin  in  the  air  in  order  to 
look  under  the  rim.  His  horse  was  an  old  raw-boned  sorrel,  who  calmly  moved 
about  like  his  master,  careless  of  cannon-ball  or  bullet  in  the  hottest  moments  of 
battle. 

In  action  Jackson  was  often  impetuous.  It  is  stated  that  at  the  battle  of 
Cedar  Run  his  command  was  pressed  by  superior  numbers  so  that  it  was  forced 
back  and  the  day  seemed  lost.  Galloping  to  the  front  amidst  the  terrible  fire, 
he  personally  rallied  his  troops,  and  by  his  voice  and  example  induced  them  to 
re-form.  When  this  was  accomplished  he  gave  the  order  to  charge,  when,  as 
if  inspired  by  his  presence,  they  obeyed  and  speedily  regained  the  ground  they 
had  lost. 


126  THOMAS      JONATHAN      JACKSON. 

General  Jackson  was  a  hard  student.  At  "West-Point  his  lessons  were  learned 
only  after  the  utmost  mental  labor,  and  few  there  considered  him  a  bright  scholar. 
He  graduated,  however,  far  above  many  whose  tasks  had  been  more  easily  learned 
and  who  it  was  thought  would  distance  him  in  the  contest  for  the  prize  at  ex 
amination. 

When  he  was  a  Professor  at  the  Virginia  Military  Institute  he  was  a  martinet 
in  the  performance  of  his  duties,  and  the  pupils  were  led  to  regard  him  as  a  most 
unreasonable  and  exacting  stickler  for  useless  military  etiquette  and  ceremony. 
He  once  continued  .to  wear  a  thick  woolen  uniform  late  in  the  summer,  and  when 
asked  by  the  professors  why  he  did  so,  replied  that  he  had  seen  an  order  prescrib 
ing  that  dress,  but  none  had  been  exhibited  to  him  directing  it  to  be  changed 


ULYSSES     S.     GKAJSTT. 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT  was  born  at  Point  Pleasant, 
Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  April  twenty-seventh,  1822.  His  ancestors  were 
Scotch.  His  early  education  was  obtained  at  a  seminary  at  Maysville,  Kentucky. 
Through  the  influence  of  friends  he  was  appointed  cadet  at  the  Military  Acade 
my  at  West-Point  in  1839;  he  being  then  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  Pro 
gressing  steadily  in  his  studies,  and  graduating  with  honor,  he  entered  the  United 
States  army  July  first,  18-43,  as  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  infantry.  He  was 
assigned  to  the  Fourth  regiment,  then  on  duty  in  Missouri  and  the  Indian  terri 
tory,  remaining  there  until  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  Texas.  At  Corpus 
Christi  he  received  his  full  commission  as  second  lieutenant  of  the  Seventh  in 
fantry,  bearing  date  September  thirtieth,  18-15.  His  regiment  joined  the  army 
under  General  Taylor,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  May  sixth, 
and  Resaca  de  la  Palrna,  May  ninth,  1816.  Grant  had,  however,  been  detached 
and  rejoined  the  Fourth  regiment  the  previous  November.  With  this  corps  he 
participated  in  the  operations  of  General  Taylor  along  the  Rio  Grande  and  in 
the  battle  of  Monterey,  September  twenty-third,  1846.  Previous  to  the  surrender 
of  Vera  Cruz,  the  Fourth  regiment  was  transferred  to  the  command  of  General 
Scott.  Lieutenant  Grant  took  part  in  the  siege  of  that  stronghold  and  ad 
vanced  with  the  victorious  army  to  the  city  of  the  Montezumas.  lie  was  holding 
a  staff  appointment  as  quartermaster  at  that  time,  but  was  actively  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  behaving  with  such  gallantry  that  he  was  award 
ed  by  Congress  the  brevet  of  first  lieutenant,  which  he  declined.  He  subse 
quently  was  promoted  to  the  full  rank  of  first  lieutenant  to  date  from  September 
sixteenth,  18-47.  At  the  battle  of  Chapultepec,  September  thirteenth,  1847, 
with  his  command,  he  joined  Captain  Horace  Brooks,  of  the  Second  artillery, 
and  by  a  united  movement  carried  a  strong  field-work,  thus  completely  turning 
the  enemy's  right.  For  his  conduct  on  this  occasion  he  received  honorable  men 
tion  in  the  official  dispatches  of  General  Worth,  and  was  rewarded  with  the  brevet 
rank  of  captain,  to  date  from  the  battle,  which  brevet  was  confirmed  during  Janu 
ary,  1850. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  Captain  Grant  was  stationed  in  New- 
York  State,  with  his  regiment,  which  was  divided  among  the  forts  and  defences 
of  the  northern  frontier  and  Michigan.  In  1852,  his  corps  was  sent  to  the 


128  ULYSSES      S.      GRANT. 

Pacific  coast,  and  the  battalion  to  which  Captain  Grant  belonged  was  stationed 
at  Fort  Dallas,  Oregon.  While  here  he  received  the  full  commission  of  captain, 
dating  from  August,  1853.  On  the  thirty-first  of  July,  1854,  he  resigned  his  com 
mission  in  the  army  and  took  up  his  residence  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits  until  1859,  when  he  married  and  removed  to  Galena, 
111.,  at  which  place  he  united  in  partnership  with  his  father  in  the  tanning 
business. 

When  the  rebellion  broke  out  General  Grant  offered  his  services  to  Gov 
ernor  Yates,  of  Illinois,  who  appointed  him  an  aid  on  his  staff,  and  mustering 
officer  of  the  State  volunteers.  He  retained  this  position  until  June  fifteenth, 
1861,  when  desiring  active  service,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Twenty -first 
Illinois  volunteers.  This  regiment  was  sent  into  Missouri,  and  formed  part  of 
General  Huiibut's  force,  was  subsequently  stationed  at  Mexico,  Mo.,  where  it 
was  incorporated  with  General  Pope's  troops,  and,  during  the  early  part  of  August 
1861,  garrisoned  Pilot  Knob,  and  afterward  Marble  Creek,  Mo.  August  twenty- 
third  he  was  appointed  by  the  President  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers,  with 
rank  from  May  seventeenth,  1861.  General  Grant  was  then  placed  in  command  of 
the  post  at  Cairo,  where  he  was  afterwards  joined  by  McClernand's  brigade. 
His  department  then  included  the  Missouri  shore  of  the  Mississippi  from  Cape 
Girardeau  to  New-Madrid.  Kentucky,  at  this  time,  was  supposed  to  be  neutral, 
and  its  Governor  was  anxious  that  its  soil  should  not  be  invaded  by  the  troops 
of  either  combatants.  The  rebels,  however,  perceiving  the  importance  of  Colum 
bus  in  a  military  view,  seized  upon  that  point  and  garrisoned  Belmont  opposite. 
General  Grant  at  once  determined  to  occupy  Paducah,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ten 
nessee  River,  and  successfully  accomplished  his  object  on  the  sixth  of  Septem 
ber.  In  answer  to  a  protest  from  the  Governor  of  Kentucky,  Grant  called  his 
attention  to  the  occupation  of  Columbus  by  the  rebels  as  the  provocation  for  his 
course.  He  subsequently  occupied  Smithland  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland 
River,  and  thus  blockaded  the  entrance  to  those  important  streams,  and  gained 
valuable  bases  for  future  operations.  On  the  seventh  of  November  General  Grant 
made  a  movement  upon  Belmont,  Mo.,  for  the  purpose  of  dislodging  the  rebel 
troops  who  had  fortified  that  position,  and  was  successful.  The  object  having 
been  accomplished,  he  proceeded  to  withdraw  his  forces.  Large  numbers  of  his 
command,  however,  were  so  busily  engaged  in  reaping  the  spoils  of  victory,  that 
reinforcements  of  the  enemy  landed  and  accelerated  the  departure  to  such  an  ex 
tent  that  the  closing  scenes  had  the  appearance  of  a  rout,  and  as  such  were  con 
sidered  by  the  Southern  leaders.  General  Grant,  however,  retired  safely,  and, 
under  all  the  circumstances,  the  battle  of  Belmont  was  a  victory. 

After  Fremont's  supersedure  by  General  Halleck,  Grant's  department  was 
extended,  and  embraced  the  southern  part  of  Illinois,  that  part  of  Kentucky  west 


ULYSSES      S.      GRANT.  129 

of  the  Cumberland  River,  and  the  southern  counties  of  Missouri  south  of  Cape 
Girardeau.     Columbus  had  by  this  time — December  twentieth,  1861 — been  great 
ly  strengthened  by  the  rebels,  and  was  so  situated  that  an  attack  from  the  river 
was  considered  impracticable.     The  Southern  troops  were  also  in  force  in  Central 
Kentucky,  occupying  Bowling  Green  as  the  key  of  the  route  to  Nashville  in 
Tennessee,  and  held  Fort  Henry  on  the  Tennessee  and  Fort  Donelson  on  the 
Cumberland.     Grant's  plans  comprised  their  dislodgment  from  Columbus  on  his 
right  and  Bowling  Green  on  his  left,  and  with  a  view  to  conceal  his  real  destina 
tion,  he  first  made  a  reconnoissance  in  force  down  the  Mississippi  to  the  vicinity 
of  Columbus.     Next,  with  troops  under  McClernand,  he  made  a  movement  in  a 
south-easterly  direction  from  Cairo.     Then  concentrating  his  forces,  he  moved 
rapidly  upon  Fort  Henry,  on  the  Tennessee,  and  carried  the  rebel  position,  Feb 
ruary  sixth,  1862,  capturing  General  Tilghman  and  staff  and  sixty  men ;  the  rest 
of  the  command   having  retreated  to  Fort  Donelson.      The  fleet  of  gunboats, 
under  Flag-Officer  Foote,  then  passed  up  the  Cumberland  River  to  Fort  Donelson, 
while  General  Grant,  with  his  command,  moved  across  and  invested  the  fort  on 
the   twelfth  of  February.      The  fort  was  garrisoned  by  twenty  thousand  men 
under  Pillow,  Floyd,  and  Buckner.     General  Grant  commenced  the  attack  on  the 
morning  of  the  thirteenth,  and  continued  it  on  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth,  by  the 
night  of  which  he  had  secured  all  the  commanding  positions,  and,  save  at  one 
point,  had  completely  hemmed  the  rebel  forces  in.      During  the  night  of  the 
fifteenth,  the  rebel  generals  held  a  council  of  war,  when  it  was  determined  that 
it  was  useless  to  hold  out  longer.     Generals  Floyd  and  Pillow  turned  the  com 
mand  over  to  Buckner,  and   the   former  succeeded   in  withdrawing  his   corps 
through  the  unguarded  part,  and  both  rebel  leaders  made  good  their  escape.     On 
the  next  morning  Buckner  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  General  Grant,  offering  to  sur 
render,  and  asking  terms  of  capitulation.     The  answer  was  laconic,  and  gave  the 
victorious  General  the  appellation  which  he  has  ever  since  borne — "Unconditional 
Surrender  Grant."     He  replied :  "  No  terms  other  than  an  unconditional  surrender 
can  be  accepted.     I  propose  to  move  immediately  upon  your  works."     Buckner 
was  compelled  to  submit,  and  immediately  surrendered  his  command,  consisting 
of  thirteen  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-nine  men,  three  thousand  horses, 
forty-eight  field-pieces,  seventeen  heavy  guns,  twenty  thousand  stand  of  arms,  and 
a  large  quantity  of  commissary  stores.     The  rebel  losses  in  the  siege  were  two 
hundred  and  thirty-one  killed  and  one  thousand  and  seven  wounded.     The  Union 
loss  was  four  hundred  and  forty-six  killed,  one   thousand  seven  hundred  and 
thirty-five  wounded,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners.     The  number  of  pri 
soners  was  increased  on  the  day  of  surrender  by  a  reinforcement  which  had  been 
sent  from  the  vicinity  of  Bowling  Green.     Flag-Officer  Foote  moved  up  the  river 
immediately  after  the  surrender,  and  captured  Clarksville.     General  Buell  pushed 


130  ULYSSES     S.      GRANT. 

on  from  the  vicinity  of  Bowling  Green,  and  on  the  twenty-third  captured  Nash 
ville,  Tennessee,  with  his  advance  under  General  Nelson.  The  capture  of  Fort 
Henry  and  Fort  Donelson  not  only  opened  the  navigation  of  the  Tennessee  and 
Cumberland  Eivers,  but  turned  the  rebel  positions  at  Columbus  and  Bowling 
Green,  which  were  almost  immediately  evacuated. 

For  his  victory  at  Fort  Donelson,  Grant  was  made  Major-General  of  vol 
unteers,  to  date  from  the  day  of  the  surrender.  His  district  was  then  extended 
and  denominated  the  Department  of  West-Tennessee.  General  Grant's  plans 
seemed  from  the  outset  to  have  comprehended  a  theatre  of  no  less  magnitude  than 
the  entire  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  Doubtless,  had  he  met  with  the  success  he 
anticipated  in  his  movement  upon  Corinth,  Miss.,  he  would  have  soon  occupied  a 
position  in  the  rear  of  Yicksburgh  which  would  have  placed  that  stronghold  in 
our  possession  one  year  at  least  sooner  than  it  fell.  After  the  capture  of  Nash 
ville,  Grant  retraced  his  steps  to  the  Cumberland,  and  forwarded  his  troops 
on  transports  to  Pittsburgh  Landing.  Corinth  was  the  objective  point,  for  there 
.the  rebels  had  concentrated  their  forces  under  one  of  their  ablest  generals,  A 
Sidney  Johnston,  and  it  was  in  a  military  view  a  position  of  great  strategic 
importance.  The  rebel  general  perceived  General  Grant's  object,  and,»with  a  view 
to  overwhelm  him  before  reinforcements  from  Nashville  could  join  him,  lie 
moved  his  forces  out  of  Corinth  to  attack  him  at  Pittsburgh  Landing.  The 
engagement  opened  on  the  morning  of  April  sixth,  and  raged  with  fearful  fury 
until  night.  The  Union  forces  had  then  been  driven  from  the  field  to  the  banks 
of  the  river,  and  the  protection  of  the  gunboats;  but  there  they  held  their  posi 
tion,  inspired  by  the  indomitable  energy  of  their  commander,  and  rested  on  their 
arms  for  reinforcements.  The  troops  under  Buell  arrived  upon  the  opposite 
bank  of  the  river  shortly  after  sunset,  and  immediately  crossed  the  stream.  The 
next  morning  the  line  of  battle  was  formed,  and  the  rebels  were  driven  from  the 
field  with  the  loss  of  A.  Sidney  Johnston  and  fearful  slaughter  in  their  ranks. 
The  Union  army  was  so  exhausted,  however,  that  but  a  brief  pursuit  was  made, 
and  the  rebels  retired  within  their  intrenchments  at  Corinth.  The  Union  losses 
in  this  engagement  were  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-five  killed,  seven 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-two  wounded,  and  four  thousand  and  forty- 
five  missing  and  prisoners ;  a  portion  of  General  Prentiss's  brigade  having  been 
captured.  The  rebel  losses  were  stated  in  the  official  report  of  Beauregard,  who 
succeeded  to  the  command  when  General  Johnston  fell,  to  be  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  twenty-eight  killed,  eight  thousand  and  twelve  wounded,  and 
nine  hundred  and  fifty-nine  missing. 

While  General  Grant's  expedition  was  being  transferred  to  the  Tennessee,  a 
portion  of  the  navy  under  Flag-Officer  Foote  commenced  operations,  in  conjunc 
tion  with  General  Pope,  upon  the  Mississippi  Eiver,  at  Island  No.  10,  where  the 


ULYSSES      S.      GRA  XT.  131 

rebels  had  taken  position  after  the  evacuation  of  Columbus,  Ky.  The  bom 
bardment  of  this  place  commenced  on  the  fifteenth  of  March,  and  continued, 
with  but  little  interruption,  until  April  seventh,  when  it  surrendered  in  conse 
quence  of  its  being  flanked  by  means  of  a  canal  which  had  been  constructed  by 
the  military  engineers.  After  the  capture  of  Island  No.  10,  Flag-Officer  Foote 
proceeded  down  the  river  to  Fort  Pillow,  which  presented  another  obstacle  to  his 
further  progress. 

Meantime  Grant  commenced  to  reorganize  his  army,  and  pushed  several  im 
portant  reconnoissances  to  the  vicinity  of  Corinth.  General  Halleck  took  the 
field  in  person  about  the  middle  of  April,  but  gave  Grant  the  command  of  the 
centre,  which  made  him  next  in  rank  to  himself.  General  Halleck  advanced 
upon  Corinth  by  regular  siege  approaches,  and  continued  his1  operations  until 
May  twenty-ninth,  when  the  position  was  evacuated,  it  being  no  longer  tenable. 
Fort  Pillow  was  also  evacuated  on  the  fifth  of  June,  and  on  the  sixth  Flag- 
Officer  Foote,  after  a  grand  naval  engagement  opposite  Memphis,  received  the 
surrender  of  that  city.  General  Halleck  was  called  to  AVashington  as  General-in- 
Chief,  on  the  twenty-second  of  July,  and  Grant's  command  was  extended  and  de 
nominated  the  Department  of  Tennessee. 

The  operations  during  the  summer  were  of  but  little  importance;  Grant 
being  employed  in  reorganizing  his  army.  September  nineteenth,  a  portion  of 
his  forces,  under  General  Rosecrans,  attacked  Price  at  luka,  Miss.,  and  completely 
routed  him.  On  the  third  of  October,  General  Grant's  position  at  Corinth  was 
attacked  by  Van  Dorn  ;  but,  after  three  days'  fighting,  the  rebels  were  compelled 
to  retire  after  losing  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded.  On  the  thirtieth  of  Octo 
ber,  they  began  concentrating  their  forces  at  Ripley,  Miss.,  with  the  intention  of 
dislodging  Grant,  but  he,  by  superior  generalship,  outmanoeuvred  them,  and  pre 
pared  to  move  his  army  westward  and  southward  toward  Central  Mississippi. 
On  the  ninth  of  November,  his  advance  occupied  La  Grange,  and  on  the  second 
of  December,  another  portion  of  his  troops,  under  General  Hovey,  occupied 
Granada,  Miss.,  where  a  large  quantity  of  railroad  stock  was  destroyed.  Grant's 
intentions  respecting  a  further  movement  into  Central  Mississippi  were  frus 
trated  by  circumstances  over  which  he  had  no  control,  and  his  base  of  opera 
tions  was  transferred  to  Memphis..  His  department  then  included  Cairo,  Forts 
Henry  and  Donelson,  Northern  Mississippi  and  Tennessee,  west  of  the  Tennessee 
River.  On  the  twenty-second  of  December,  his  army  was  divided  into  four  corps, 
each  under  an  efficient  commander,  and  each  operating  independently  of  the  other, 
but  all  under  the  supreme  direction  of  Grant.  General  Sherman,  who  commanded 
the  right  wing  of  the  army,  made  a  movement  against  Vicksburgh,  in  the  latter 
part  of  December,  in  which  he  was  unsuccessful. 

Early  in  January,  1863,  General  Grant  assumed  the  principal  direction  of  the 


132  ULYSSES      S.      GRANT. 

operations  for  the  capture  of  Vicksburgh.  Admiral  Porter  cooperated  with  his 
fleet,  and  Colonel,  afterward  General  Grierson,  made  a  brilliant  foray  in  April 
through  Central  Mississippi  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  the  railroad  communica 
tion.  Siege  operations  were  commenced  against  Yicksburgh  on  the  twenty-second 
of  January,  and  Grant  took  the  field  in  person  on  the  fourth  of  February.  The 
bombardment  commenced  on  the  eighteenth.  Various  plans  were  put  in  execu 
tion  to  accomplish  the  result  desired,  among  which  were  the  digging  of  canals  to 
connect  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  with  streams  tributary  to  the  Yazoo,  so  that 
Haines's  Bluff  might  be  taken  by  a  flank  movement,  and  Vicksburgh  be  ap 
proached  from  the  north.  These  plans  failed,  however.  Admiral  Porter  during 
the  months  of  March  and  April  succeeded  in  running  several  of  his  gunboats 
past  the  batteries  at  Vicksburgh,  and,  on  the  thirtieth  of  April,  passed  the  bat 
teries  at  Grand  Gulf,  below  Vicksburgh,  with  his  entire  squadron.  General 
Grant  had,  by  this  time,  moved  his  army  to  the  south  of  Vicksburgh ;  and,  on 
the  same  day,  April  thirtieth,  landed  at  Bruinsburgh.  Thence  his  march  to 
the  interior  was  rapid  and  brilliant.  The  victories  of  Grand  Gulf,  Port  Gibson, 
Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hills,  and  Big  Black  River  bridge,  followed  in 
quick  succession;  the  rebels,  under  Pemberton,  retreating  from  before  the  vic 
torious  legions  into  the  defences  of  Vicksburgh,  which,  on  the  eighteenth  of  May, 
were  closely  invested  by  General  Grant.  The  remainder  of  that  month  and  the 
month  of  June  was  occupied  in  prosecuting  the  siege.  On  the  fourth  of  July, 
Vicksburgh  was  unconditionally  surrendered  to  the  Union  forces ;  thirty-one 
thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-seven  prisoners  and  a  large  quantity  of  artil 
lery  being  captured.  The  National  losses  in  the  siege  were  five  hundred  and 
forty-five  killed,  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty-eight  wounded,  and  three 
hundred  and  three  prisoners.  General  W.  T.  Sherman  was  immediately  sent  in 
pursuit  of  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  who  was  in  the  vicinity  of  Jackson,  and  defeated 
him,  scattering  an  army  already  greatly  demoralized  and  despairing.  The  fall  of 
Vicksburgh  accelerated  the  surrender  of  Port  Hudson  to  General  Banks ;  the 
navigation  of  the  Mississippi  was  almost  immediately  restored,  and  the  rebel  terri 
tory  literally  cut  in  twain.  For  this  victory  General  Grant  was  made  a  Major- 
General  in  the  regular  army,  to  date  from  July  fourth,  1863.  Having  concluded 
his  campaign,  he  paid  a  visit  to  New-Orleans,  where  he  received  an  ovation  from 
the  loyal  citizens.  While  on  horseback,  attending  a  review,  he  fell,  and  was 
seriously  injured,  but  as  soon  as  he  was  sufficiently  recovered  he  commenced  his 
journey  northward ;  and,  by  orders  of  the  War  Department,  reported  at  Indian 
apolis.  Here  he  met  the  Secretary  of  War,  who  directed  him  to  assume  command 
of  the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi,  with  plenary  powers.  His  department 
embraced  the  departments  of  the  Tennessee,  Ohio,  and  the  Cumberland,  and  he 
assumed  command  on  the  eighteenth  of  October.  General  Rosecrans  had  incurred 


ULYSSES      S.      GRANT.  133 

the  censure  of  the  War  Department  in  conducting  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
on  the  nineteenth  and  twentieth  of  September,  and  had  been  superseded  by 
Major-General  Thomas.  General  W.  T.  Sherman  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
Department  of  the  Tennessee,  and  was  then  on  his  way  to  Chattanooga,  with  his 
corps,  to  reenforce  the  army  there.  General  Burnside  was  in  command  of  the 
Department  of  the  Ohio,  with  his  headquarters  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.  The  posi 
tion  of  affairs  at  Chattanooga  was  somewhat  critical  when  Grant  assumed  control 
of  his  new  department.  The  rebels  occupied  Lookout  Mountain  and  other  posi 
tions  commanding  Chattanooga  and  the  communications  by  the  Tennessee  Eiver. 
The  concentration  of  large  bodies  of  troops  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Chattanooga 
demanded  that  adequate  lines  of  supply  should  be  opened.  General  Burnside 
was  threatened  by  Longstreet,  who  had  been  detached  from  the  main  rebel  army 
in  order  to  overwhelm  the  Union  forces  in  East-Tennessee,  and  all  was  favorable 
for  an  aggressive  movement  on  the  part  of  Grant.  On  the  twenty-third,  twenty- 
fourth,  and  twenty-fifth  of  November,  he  succeeded,  by  the  battle  of  Chattanooga, 
in  driving  the  rebels  from  the  commanding  positions  which  they  held,  and  they 
retreated  precipitately  through  and  beyond  Einggold,  Ga.  Reinforcements  were 
immediately  sent  to  the  relief  of  General  Burnside,  who  was  being  besieged  at 
Knoxville,  and  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  November,  the  rebels  were  compelled  to 
raise  the  siege  of  that  place  and  retreat  in  a  north-easterly  direction  on  the  line 
of  the  Virginia  and  Tennessee  Eailroad.  Thus  General  Grant,  by  the  victory  at 
Chattanooga,  not  only  secured  a  permanent  base  of  operations  at  that  point,  but 
defended  East-Tennessee  against  all  assaults  by  the  rebels.  The  President  recog 
nized  the  importance  of  this  victory  in  a  letter  to  General  Grant,  in  which  he 
said  :  "  Understanding  that  your  lodgment  at  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville  is  now 
secure,  I  wish  to  tender  you  and  all  under  your  command,  my  more  than  thanks — 
my  profoundest  gratitude  —  for  the  skill,  courage,  and  perseverance  with  which 
you  and  they,  over  so  great  difficulties,  have  effected  that  important  object.  God 
bless  you  all." 

Upon  the  recommendation  of  the  President,  Congress  passed  a  resolution  of 
thanks,  and  voted  a  medal  to  General  Grant  for  his  great  victories,  and  this  reso 
lution  was  the  first  which  became  a  law  during  the  session  of  the  Congress  of 
1863  and  186-1.  On  the  twenty-sixth  of  February,  1864,  an  Act  was  passed  by 
Congress  reviving  the  grade  of  lieutenant-general,  and  General  Grant  was  appoint 
ed  to  that  position  by  President  Lincoln,  receiving  his  commission  at  Washing 
ton,  March  ninth.  He  has  thus  obtained  the  highest  honors  he  as  a  soldier  can 
desire.  His  name  has  been  brought  forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency, 
an  event  which  does  not  shake  his  modesty  in  the  least.  When  the  subject 
was  mentioned  to  him,  he  remarked  that  he  aspired  to  only  one  political  office. 
"  When  the  war  is  over,"  said  he,  "  I  mean  to  run  for  mayor  of  Galena,  111." — his 


134  ULYSSES      S.      GRANT. 

place  of  residence —  "  and  if  elected  I  shall  have  the  sidewalk  between  my  house 
and  the  depot  repaired." 

General  Grant's  personal  appearance  is  very  unassuming.  On  the  battle-field 
he  wore  a  huge  military  coat,  a  slouching  hat,  and  no  insignia  of  his  rank.  He  is 
an  inveterate  smoker  and  is  rarely  seen  without  a  segar.  When  Pemberton  had 
an  interview  with  him,  immediately  prior  to  the  capitulation  of  Vicksburgh,  Gen 
eral  Grant  went  aside  with  him,  seated  himself  upon  a  grassy  mound,  and  smoked 
while  the  details  of  the  surrender  were  discussed. 

At  the  close  of  the  first  day's  engagement  at  Pittsburgh  Landing,  General 
Grant,  with  a  view  to  rally  his  men,;rode  along  the  lines  with  hat  and  sword  up 
lifted  imploring  the  men  to  stand  but  a  little  while  longer,  for  reinforcements 
were  momentarily  expected.  And  it  is  due  in  a  great  measure  to  his  heroism  on 
that  occasion  that  the  fortunes  of  the  day  were  saved. 

General  Grant  seems  to  have  so  planned  his  campaigns  as  to  insure  success. 
It  is  on  record  that  before  he  commenced  his  movement  to  the  south  of  Vicks 
burgh,  the  President  was  undecided  as  to  the  feasibility  of  his  plan.  After  the 
movement  was  commenced,  the  President  thought  that  he  should  go  down  the 
river  and  join  General  Banks ;  and  when  he  turned  northward  toward  the  Big 
Black,  the  President  feared  it  was  a  mistake.  "But,"  he  adds,  "I  now  W7ish  to 
make  a  personal  acknowledgment  that  you  were  right  and  I  was  wrong."  From 
the  moment  that  General  Grant  commenced  his  movement  against  Forts  Henry 
and  Donelson  up  to  and  including  the  period  of  his  command  of  the  military 
department  of  the  Mississippi  —  except  a  brief  time  when  General  Halleck  was 
in  the  field  before  Corinth  —  he  has  acted  upon  plans  of  his  own  designing,  and 
to  him  alone  is  due  the  credit  of  achieving  the  many  victories  he  has  won. 

A  man  who  has  attained  such  a  high  military  position  will  naturally  have 
some  enemies.  While  he  was  quietly  pursuing  his  military  career  he  had  many 
influential  foes  who  lost  no  opportunity  to  malign  him.  Now  they  and  their 
false  charges  are  all  swept  away.  He  was  accused  of  being  addicted  to  intemper 
ance.  This  was  disproved  fully,  and  the  President  silenced  some  of  his  calum 
niators,  on  one  occasion,  by  stating  that  if  he  knew  on  what  kind  of  whiskey 
General  Grant  got  intoxicated,  he  would  send  a  demijohn  to  each  of  the  generals 
in  the  field  if  it  would  make  them  win  such  victories  as  that  at  Vicksburgh. 
He  exercised  the  most  scrupulous  care  over  his  men  and  lent  his  official  aid  to 
protect  them  against  imposition.  On  one  occasion,  after  the  surrender  of  Vicks 
burgh,  some  of  his  furloughed  men  were  charged  exorbitantly  for  passage  up 
the  river  by  steamboat  men.  The  General  was  very  indignant,  and  remarked : 
"  I  will  teach  them,  if  they  need  the  lesson,  that  the  men  who  have  perilled  their 
lives  to  open  the  Mississippi  Eiver  for  their  benefit  cannot  be  imposed  upon  with 
impunity." 


ULYSSES      S.      GRANT.  185 

The  opposition  faction  at  the  North  received  no  sympathy  from  him.  When 
Logan  was  at  home  on  a  furlough,  some  persons  remarked  to  General  Grant, 
that  they  thought  he  had  been  absent  too  long.  lie  replied  :  "I  extended  Gene 
ral  Logan's  furlough  because,  while  he  is  in  Illinois  fighting  copperheads,  he  is  still 
in  the  field  doing  his  duty." 

On  his  return  up  the  Mississippi,  he  responded  to  an  invitation  to  meet  the 
loyal  citizens  of  Memphis,  but  declined  to  speak  to  the  toast  given  in  compliment 
to  him.  At  a  later  hour  in  the  evening  he  appeared  upon  the  balcony  of  his 
hotel,  and  modestly  thanked  the  assemblage  for  the  honor  they  had  conferred 
upon  him. 

General  Grant  has  captured,  during  his  brilliant  career,  no  less  than  four 
hundred  and  seventy -two  cannon,  and  over  ninety  thousand  prisoners — more  than 
any  other  two  generals  in  the  whole  army.  The  territory  which  he  conquered 
has  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  Federal  arms,  if  we  except  the  presence 
occasionally  of  roving  guerrilla  bands.  The  reconstruction  of  Tennessee,  Mis 
sissippi,  and  Arkansas  will  be  due  to  his  brilliant  military  achievements,  and 
when  Alabama  and  Georgia  fall  into  line,  General  Grant  can  honestly  claim  a 
great  share  of  the  honor  of  their  restoration  from  the  thraldom  of  the  rebel  rule. 

Upon  his  promotion,  the  President  assigned  to  him  command  of  the  armies 
of  the  United  States,  relieving  Halleck  as  General-in-Chief.  General  Grant  se 
lected  the  field  as  his  headquarters,  and  proceeded  to  reorganize  the  armies  for 
the  spring  campaign.  As  this  sketch  closes,  April  first,  1864,  he  is  perfecting  his 
plans  for  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  and  the  speedy  downfall  of  the  re 
bellion. 


EDWAKD   D.    BAKEE. 

THE  death,  of  a  soldier  in  honorable  warfare,  on  a  well-fought  field,  is  an 
event  so  intimately  connected  with  his  calling,  that  the  mind  is  always  more 
or  less  prepared  for  the  calamity,  however  sudden  may  be  its  approach.  Choice  has 
made  him  "  seek  renown  even  in  the  jaws  of  danger  and  of  death,"  and  chance 
holds  the  scales  in  which  his  fate  is  weighed.  But  when  one  who  has  gained 
distinction  in  the  peaceful  walks  of  civil  life,  whose  eloquent  voice  has  moved 
multitudes  to  enthusiasm  or  to  tears,  and  who  has  taken  the  sword  from  motives 
of  patriotism  only,  is  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  fame  and  usefulness,  fighting  in  the 
ranks  of  a  loyal  army,  the  community  receives  a  shock  from  which  it  does  not 
readily  recover,  refusing  for  a  time  to  be  comforted.  Such  was  the  feeling  occa 
sioned  by  the  death  of  Colonel  Baker,  who,  at  the  call  of  a  betrayed  and  threat 
ened  country,  forsook  his  seat  in  the  halls  of  the  national  legislature  for  the  field 
of  battle,  and  there  "foremost  fighting,  fell." 

EDWARD  D.  BAKER,  late  a  Senator  of  the  United  States  from  Oregon,  and 
colonel  of  the  first  California  regiment,  was  born  in  London,  England,  on  the 
24th  day  of  February,  in  the  year  1811.  His  father,  Edward  Baker,  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  was  a  man  of  education  and  refinement ;  and  his  moth 
er's  brother,  Captain  Dickinson,  of  the  royal  navy,  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  Tra 
falgar,  where  he  fought  under  Lord  Collingwood.  In  1815,  the  elder  Baker 
removed  with  his  family  to  Philadelphia,  whence  ten  years  later  he  made  a  fur 
ther  migration  to  Illinois,  and  settling  in  the  pleasant  town  of  Belleville,  in  St. 
Clair  county,  established  there  an  academy  for  boys,  on  what  was  then  called  the 
Lancasterian  plan  of  instruction.  Here  his  son  Edward,  a  handsome  and  intelli 
gent  boy,  received  his  principal  education,  giving  even  then  many  indications  of 
the  brilliant  talents  he  was  destined  to  develop  in  mature  life.  Not  content  with 
his  prescribed  studies,  he  would  devour  whatever  books  came  within  his  reach, 
storing  his  mind  with  almost  every  thing  which  the  wide  range  of  literature  em 
braced.  To  great  industry,  energy,  and  perseverance,  he  united  a  memory  almost 
superhuman ;  and  such  were  his  powers  of  concentration,  that  the  hasty  perusal 
of  a  book  would  enable  him  to  repeat  verbatim  whole  pages  of  it.  Hence  the 
ready  and  almost  inexhaustible  fund  of  varied  knowledge  which  in  after-life 
astonished  those  who  knew  the  circumstances  of  his  childhood,  and  which  con- 

38 


'  )] 


EDWARD     D.     BAKER.  137 

tributed  in  no  slight  degree  to  his  success  as  a  public  speaker.  As  an  illustration 
of  the  ambition  for  public  life  which  even  then  began  to  stir  him,  it  is  related 
that  a  friend  surprised  him  one  day  weeping  bitterly  over  a  volume  which  he 
was  perusing,'  and  asked  him  what  book  it  was  that  so  affected  him.  "  The  Con- 
titution  of  the  United  States,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  find  that  no  foreigner  can  be 
President,  and  I  am  of  English  birth." 

At  the  age  of  eighteen,  young  Baker  removed  to  Carrollton,  in  Greene 
county,  where  he  obtained  a  deputy  clerkship  in  the  county  court ;  and  in  the 
intervals  of  his  office  labors  applied  himself  with  diligence  to  the  study  of  law, 
which  he  determined  to  make  his  profession.  Before  reaching  his  majority  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  after  a  highly  creditable  examination,  and  commenced 
practice  in  Carrollton.  Possessing  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  details  of  his 
profession  remarkable  in  so  young  a  man,  he  soon  showed  also  powers  of  oratory 
which  placed  him  high  as  an  advocate,  at  the  very  head  of  the  bar  in  his  circuit, 
and  gave  him  a  considerable  reputation  outside  the  courts  of  law. 

About  1832-'33,  a  noted  revival  took  place  among  the  Christians  or  Camp- 
bellite  Baptists  in  Illinois,  under  the  influence  of  which  Mr.  Baker  becaftie  a 
convert  to  the  doctrines  of  the  sect.  Impressed  with  the  belief  that  his  abilities 
as  a  public  speaker  ought  to  be  employed  in  the  service  of  religion,  he  regularly 
devoted  his  Sundays,  and  such  other  time  as  he  could  spare  from  professional 
duties,  to  preaching ;  and  in  this  course  he  persevered  for  several  years,  with  high 
reputation  as  a  pulpit  orator. 

In  1838,  finding  Carrollton  too  limited  a  field  for  his  forensic  powers,  Mr. 
Baker  removed  to  Springfield,  then  recently  created  the  capital  of  the  state,  and 
immediately  embarked  in  a  lucrative  practice.  Among  the  many  distinguished 
men  with  whom  he  then  entered  into  competition  were  President  Lincoln,  the 
late  Senator  Douglas,  Senators  Trumbull  and  McDougal  (the  latter  now  of  Cali 
fornia),  General  Shields,  and  Colonel  Bissell,  not  one  of  whom  equalled  him  in 
the  ready  flow,  the  brilliancy,  or  the  pathos,  of  his  eloquence.  In  respect  to 
voice,  grace  of  delivery,  and  the  other  outward  attributes  of  the  orator,  he  far 
surpassed  all  of  his  contemporaries.  These  qualities  suggested  him  as  an  aspi 
rant  for  political  honors ;  and  in  1844,  having  previously  held  a  seat  in  both 
houses  of  the  state  legislature,  he  was  elected  by  the  Whigs  to  represent  the 
Springfield  district  (the  only  one  in  the  state  controlled  by  that  party)  in  the 
twenty-ninth  Congress,  which  met  in  the  succeeding  year.  He  was  rapidly  ma 
king  himself  known  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  that  body,  when  the  Mexican  War 
broke  out ;  and,  unable  to  resist  the  fascinations  of  a  military  career,  he  obtained 
permission  from  President  Polk  to  raise  a  regiment  in  Illinois  for  the  relief  of 
General  Taylor.  Within  two  weeks  it  was  recruited,  equipped,  and  on  the  way 
to  New  Orleans,  being  the  first  one  embarked  from  north  of  the  Ohio.  On  the 


EDWARD     D .      BAKER. 

Rio  Grande  lie  was  dangerously  wounded  in  the  neck,  in  repressing  a  mutiny  in 
a  Mississippi  regiment,  and  in  consequence  was  unable  to  participate  in  the  hard- 
fought  battles  of  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista. 

Having  resumed  his  seat  in  Congress  for  a  few  months,  Colonel  Baker  re 
joined  his  regiment  before  Vera  Cruz,  and  marched  with  the  army  under  Scott 
for  Mexico.  At  Cerro  Gordo  his  regiment,  which  formed  part  of  the  brigade  of 
General  Shields,  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  assault  upon  the  enemy's  works; 
and  upon  the  fall  of  Shields,  severely  wounded,  Colonel  Baker,  assuming  the 
command  of  the  brigade,  led  it  forward  with  a  gallantry  and  dash  which  greatly 
contributed  to  the  success  of  the  day,  and  elicited  the  warm  commendation  of 
Generals  Scott  and  Twiggs,  and  other  high  officers. 

The  term  for  which  his  men  had  enlisted  having  expired  soon  afterward, 
Colonel  Baker  returned  home  in  the  summer  of  1847,  and  claimed  from  his 
friends  a  renomination  to  Congress.  Being  disappointed  in  this,  he  removed 
immediately  to  the  Galena  district,  which  for  many  years  had  been  under  the 
control  of  the  Democrats,  and  taking  the  stump  as  a  candidate  in  1848,  con 
ducted  an  exciting  canvass  with  a  vigor  and  ability  surpassing  any  of  his  previ 
ous  efforts.  The  result  was,  his  election  to  Congress  by  a  large  majority.  He 
served  through  his  term,  with  credit ;  but  his  mind,  unsettled  by  the  excitements 
of  military  life,  was  revolving  schemes  of  adventure  or  political  power  in  the 
newly-acquired  possessions  of  the  republic  on  the  Pacific  coast — the  El  Dorado 
of  the  West,  toward  which  so  many  were  already  directing  longing  eyes.  In 
1852,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  California,  whither  his  reputation  had  pre 
ceded  him,  and,  settling  in  San  Francisco,  he  at  once  built  up  a  large  practice, 
and  by  common  consent  was  acknowledged  to  be  the  most  eloquent  speaker  in 
the  state.  The  death  of  Senator  Broderick  in  a  duel,  under  circumstances  which 
made  it  certain  that  a  deep-laid  plot  had  been  conceived  to  murder  him  for  his 
bold  denunciations  of  slavery  and  the  corrupt  practices  of  the  administration, 
afforded  a  memorable  instance  of  the  oratorical  powers  of  Colonel  Baker ;  and 
his  address,  delivered  over  the  body  of  the  deceased,  aroused  in  a  vast  audience, 
collected  in  the  principal  square  of  San  Francisco,  the  wildest  emotions  of  grief 
"Never,  perhaps,"  says  one  who  was  present  on  the  occasion,  "was  eloquence 
more  thrilling ;  never  certainly  was  it  better  adapted  to  the  temper  of  its  listen 
ers.  The  merits  of  the  eulogy  divided  public  encomiums  with  the  virtues  of  the 
deceased,  and  the  orator  became  invested  with  the  dead  Senator's  political  for 
tunes." 

But  California  was  at  that  time  too  thoroughly  under  the  control  of  the 
Democratic  party  to  enable  Colonel  Baker,  who  had  become  associated  with  the 
Republicans,  to  enter  the  political  arena  with  any  prospect  of  success ;  and  in 
1859,  having  in  the  previous  year  been  defeated  as  Republican  candidate  for 


EDWARD     D.      BAKER.  139 

Congress  in  the  San  Francisco  district,  he  removed  to  Oregon,  and  was  elected 
a  United  States  Senator  for  the  term  expiring  March  4th,  1865.  He  also  stumped 
the  state  vigorously  for  Lincoln  in  the  presidential  campaign  of  that  year,  and, 
in  consequence  of  divisions  among  the  Democrats,  secured  the  electoral  vote  of 
Oregon  for  the  Eepublican  candidate.  His  eloquent  voice  was  first  heard  in  the 
Senate-chamber  in  the  eventful  session  of  1860-'61 ;  and  his  speech  in  reply  to 
Senator  Benjamin,  of  Louisiana,  showed  the  quality  of  his  genius.  "  Perhaps," 
said  Senator  Sumner,  in  his  eulogy  on  Colonel  Baker,  delivered  in  the  Senate  on 
December  10th,  1861,  "  the  argument  against  the  sophism  of  secession  was  never 
better  arranged  and  combined,  or  more  simply  popularized  for  the  general  appre 
hension.  That  speech  at  once  passed  into  the  permanent  literature  of  the  coun 
try,  while  it  gave  to  its  author  an  assured  position  in  this  body."  On  another 
occasion,  he  had  a  parliamentary  contest  with  Senator  Breckenridge,  not  then 
expelled  from  his  seat,  "  meeting  the  polished  traitor  everywhere  with  weapons 
keener  and  brighter  than  his  own." 

The  outbreak  of  the  Eebellion  found  Colonel  Baker  no  lukewarm  friend  of 
the  Union.  He  threw  himself,  heart  and  soul,  into  the  contest ;  and  at  the  great 
Union  mass  meeting  held  in  New  York  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter,  his  kindling 
eloquence  stirred  the  multitude  like  the  sound  of  a  trumpet.  "  It  may  cost  us 
seven  thousand  five  hundred  lives  to  crush  this  rebellion,"  he  said ;  "  it  may  be 
seventy-five  thousand  lives ;  it  may  be  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand.  What 
then  ?  We  have  them !  The  blood  of  every  loyal  citizen  of  this  government  is 
dear  to  me ;  my  sons  and  theirs — young  men  grown  up  beneath  my  eye  and  care 
— are  here ;  they  are  all  dear  to  me ;  but  if  the  organization,  the  destiny,  the 
renown,  the  glory,  freedom  of  a  constitutional  government,  the  only  hope  of  a 
free  people  demand  it,  let  them  all  go !" 

Colonel  Baker  immediately  recruited,  chiefly  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
a  regiment  of  three  years'  volunteers,  which,  in  grateful  remembrance  of  the  state 
where  he  had  passed  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life,  he  called  the  first  California 
regiment.  With  this  he  took  the  field  during  the  summer  of  1861,  still  retaining 
his  seat  in  the  Senate,  and  holding  under  consideration  the  offer  of  a  brigadier- 
generalship,  and  subsequently  of  a  major-generalship,  tendered  him  by  the  Presi 
dent  ;  neither  of  which  he  was  willing  to  accept,  if  it  should  prove  incompatible 
with  his  legislative  functions. 

The  autumn  found  Colonel  Baker  stationed  with  his  regiment  on  the  upper 
Potomac,  near  Edwards's  Ferry,  and  within  the  department  commanded  by  Gen 
eral  Stone.  On  the  21st  of  October,  in  obedience  to  orders  from  that  officer,  he 
led  a  battalion  of  his  regiment  across  the  river,  at  Conrad's  Ferry,  to  Ball's  Bluff, 
on  the  Virginia  shore,  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  reconnoissances  niade  above 
and  below  under  the  general  direction  of  Stone.  Here  he  assumed  command  of 


140  EDWARD     D.     BAKER. 

all  the  national  troops,  about  twenty-one  hundred  in  number,  which  had  effected 
a  landing.  The  butchery  of  that  devoted  band,  surrounded  by  an  unseen  and 
numerous  enemy,  is  more  familiar  to  the  public  than  the  causes  which  brought 
about  the  catastrophe,  and  which  perhaps  will  never  be  known.  In  the  midst 
of  imminent  danger,  Colonel  Baker  was  courageous  and  collected;  and  although 
impressed  with  a  presentiment,  which  he  had  expressed  on  previous  occasions, 
that  he  should  meet  his  death  during  this  campaign,  he  spared  no  effort  to  en 
courage  his  men.  At  length  the  enemy  showed  a  disposition  to  leave  their  cover 
in  the  woods.  Colonel  Baker  ordered  his  thinned  ranks  to  charge  them,  and, 
while  cheering  on  his  men,  fell  pierced  by  nine  bullets.  He  expired  instantly, 
dying  as  his  generous  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  could  have  wished — 

"  In  some  good  cause,  not  his  own, 

And  like  a  warrior  overthrown 

"Whose  eyes  are  dim  with  glorious  tears 
When,  soiled  with  noble  dust,  he  hears 
His  country's  war-song  thrill  his  ears!" 

His  body  was  recovered,  and,  after  being  honored  by  imposing  funeral  ceremo 
nies  in  "Washington  and  New  York,  was  conveyed  to  San  Francisco  for  inter 
ment.  The  public  mourning  along  the  Pacific  sea-board,  where  he  was  best 
known  and  appreciated,  is  a  sufficient  evidence  of  the  regard  he  had  inspired  in 
the  hearts  of  his  countrymen. 


S.Bi 


GEN'.OIJVER  0  HOWARD 


OLIVEK     OTIS     HOWAED. 

THE  subject  of  tliis  sketcli  was  born  November  eighth,  1830,  at  Leeds,  Maine, 
near  the  Androscoggin  Eiver.  .  He  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1850 
and  four  years  after  at  West-Point,  where  lie  was  fourth  in  his  class,  the  rebel 
Generals  Stuart  and  Yillipigue  being  numbers  thirteen  and  twenty-two  in  it 
respectively.  He  early  entered  into  the  war,  resigning  his  first  lieutenancy  in 
the  regular  army  and  his  professorship  of  mathematics  at  West-Point  in  June, 
1861,  to  become  Colonel-  of  the  Third  Maine  volunteers.  He  was  soon  in  the 
front  with  his  regiment,  and  did  good  service  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Eun, 
where  he  was  Acting  Brigadier  of  the  Third  brigade  of  Heintzelman's  Third  divi 
sion,  and  where  his  brigade  took  part  in  the  obstinate  fighting  to  carry  the  hill 
between  the  Stone  Bridge  and  Sudley's  Springs,  from  which  the  rebel  batteries  so 
effectively  assailed  the  Union  troops  who  had  carried  the  rebel  position  at  the 
bridge  itself.  Colonel  Howard's  name  was  mentioned  with  honor  in  General  Mc 
Dowell's  report  of  the  battle. 

Colonel  Howard  remained  in  charge  of  the  brigade,  on  September  third, 
1861,  received  a  brigadier's  commission,  and  with  his  command  continued  in  the 
army  of  the  Potomac  until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  June  first,  1862. 
His  brigade  was  in  Richardson's  division  of  Sumner's  corps.  When  the  attack 
was  made  on  Casey's  troops  on  May  thirty-first,  that  corps  was  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Chickahominy,  six  or  seven  miles  to  the  rear.  The  corps  was  ordered 
up  in  haste,  and  just  at  nightfall  Howard's  brigade  came  into  position.  In  the 
morning  one  of  his  regiments  was  placed  in  the  front  line,  while  the  other  three 
formed  the  second.  Richardson's  division  bore  a  large  share  of  that  day's  fight 
ing,  and  French's  and  Howard's  brigades  did  most  of  the  brave  and  steady 
work  which  repulsed  and  routed  the  two  obstinate  and  furious  attacks  of  the 
battle.  General  Richardson,  in  his  report,  says  :  "  Generals  Howard  and  French 
could  not  have  been  excelled  in  their  dispositions  of  the  different  forces  under 
their  command,  the  direction  of  their  fire,  and  in  the  moral  effect  they  produced 
upon  their  men,  and  resolute  demeanor  in  cheering  and  urging  them  on."  In 
this  day's  battle  General  Howard  received  two  bullet  wounds  in  his  right  arm, 
which  had  to  be  amputated.  Scarcely  waiting  for  his  wound  to  heal,  he  reported 
again  for  active  service,  rejoined  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  commanded  the 
Third  brigade  of  Sedgwick's  division  in  Sumner's  corps  at  the  battle  of  Antietam. 


142  OLIVER      OTIS      HOWARD. 

General  Howard's  part  in  this  fiercely  contested  field  was  not  less  creditable  than 
at  Fair  Oaks  to  him  personally,  but  was  less  brilliant.  Sumner's  corps,  it  will  be 
remembered,  went  into  battle  in  the  forenoon  of  September  seventeenth,  General 
Sumner  taking  command  in  place  of  General  Hooker,  who  was  wounded  and  dis 
abled.  Sedgwick's  division  went  into  the  fire  in  advance,  was  flanked  and  irre 
trievably  broken.  General  Howard  took  the  division  upon  General  Sedgwick's 
removal  from  the  field  with  three  wounds,  and  labored  to  rally  it,  but  the  fury  of 
the  rebel  fire  was  too  great,  and  the  troops  would  not  form.  General  Sumner 
himself  succeeded  no  better,  and  the  division  was  necessarily  taken  off  the 
ground. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  into  three  grand  divisions, 
after  General  Burnside's  accession  to  the  command  in  November.  1862,  the  ri^ht 

'  O 

division  was  given  to  General  Sumner,  and  General  Couch  took  the  Second  corps 
in  his  place.  In  the  rapid  march  from  "Warrenton  to  Falmouth,  which  preceded 
the  battle  of  Fredericksburgh,  General  Couch's  corps  had  the  advance,  General 
Sedgwick's  former  division,  still  under  General  Howard's  command,  moving  as 
the  left  of  Couch's  three  columns. 

.  About  the  time  of  this  march,  a  circular  from  Governor  Andrew  reached 
General  Howard,  inquiring  about  the  Massachusetts  regiments,  and  asking  sug 
gestions  about  them.  General  Howard's  answer,  besides  a  deservedly  high  com 
pliment  to  the  three  Massachusetts  regiments  in  his  command,  contained  a  brief 
recommendation,  exhibiting  his  peculiar  direct  sense  and  practical  wisdom.  It 
was  simply  that  the  regiments  should  be  filled  and  kept  full,  as  their  first  military 
need  ;  and  that  all  promotions  should  be  based  upon  good  conduct  in  the  service, 
or,  where  that  will  not  serve,  on  seniority. 

On  the  eleventh  of  December,  1862,  General  Howard's  division,  in  the  post 
of  honor,  led  the  advance  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  over  the  Rappahannock, 
under  an  ineffective  fire  from  the  rebel  batteries.  One  of  his  brigades,  under 
Colonel  Hall,  did  gallant  and  valuable  service  in  clearing  the  streets  of  Frede 
ricksburgh,  driving  out  Barksdale's  Mississippi  brigade  after  a  desperate  street- 
fight,  with  a  considerable  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  on  each  side. 

The  division  bivouacked  in  the  deserted  streets  of  the  rebel  city.  During 
the  next  day  the  remainder  of  the  army  crossed  the  river,  and  the  third  day, 
Saturday,  December  thirteenth,  was  that  of  the  defeat.  In  that  tremendous  con 
test  General  Howard  and  his  division  were  in  the  foremost  ranks,  his  troops  being 
chosen  by  the  veteran  Sumner  to  support  French,  who  led  the  first  charge  upon 
Lee's  lines.  At  ten  minutes  before  twelve  French's  divisioa  charged,  and  was 
met  and  driven  back  by  a  hot  musketry  fire  from  behind  strong  stone  walls 
and  breastworks.  General  Hancock's  division  went  in  next,  and  was  in  like 
manner  repulsed.  At  three  P.M.  General  Howard's  division  was  sent  in  in  turn, 


OLIVER      OTIS      HOWARD.  143 

but  brigade  after  brigade  was  fruitlessly  flung  against  the  strong  works  of  the 
rebel  army,  only  to  be  driven  back  like  their  predecessors.  The  whole  division* 
was  thus  used  in  vain,  and  all  Couch's  corps  having  now  been  employed  and  de 
feated,  was  withdrawn,  Butterfield's  corps  of  Hooker's  grand  division  relieving  it 
and  maintaining  our  lines.  On  this  day  General  Howard's  command  lost  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing  one  thousand  men.  The  remaining  six  thousand 
were,  however,  untouched  in  morale  or  spirit,  and  as  their  General  rode  along 
their  lines  on  Sunday,  when  they  were  momentarily  expecting  to  be  ordered  into 
the  light  again,  they  received  him  with  cheers  loud  and  long.  The  battle  was 
not  renewed,  and  on  Monday  night  the  army  recrossed  the  Rappahannock. 

At  the  time  of  the  Chancellorsville  campaign  General  Howard's  steady  sol 
diership  and  trustworthiness  raised  him  to  the  command  of  the  Eleventh  corps, 
though  he  and  his  troops  had  not,  at  the  time  of  the  battle,  been  long  enough  to 
gether  for  a  proper  acquaintance  with  each  other.  The  part  borne  by  General 
Howard  in  the  defeat  of  Chancellorsville  was  like  that  in  the  defeat  of  Fredericks- 
burgh,  very  creditable  to  his  own  bravery  and  soldiership.  Howard's  position  on 
the  day  of  the  battle  was  strongly  intrenched  on  its  direct  front,  looking  south. 
An  attack  was  made  on  this  front  on  Friday  evening,  May  first,  1863,  but  the 
strength  of  the  works  and  the  commanding  positions  of  General  Howard's  artillery 
enabled  him  to  repulse  them  easily.  All  through  that  night  confused  sounds  of 
voices,  wagons,  axe-strokes,  and  military  movements  were  heard  off  in  the  woods 
to  the  south  and  west  of  Howard's  line.  The  only  interpretation  placed  upon 
these  sounds  seems  to  have  been  that  the  enemy  were  cutting  a  road  by  which  to 
escape  to  Gordonsville  past  our  right  front  But  this  over-confident  theory  was 
terribly  refuted  on  Saturday.  On  that  day,  in  the  afternoon,  the  enemy  were  re 
ported  moving  "across  the  plank-road,"  that  is,  on  a  line  across  Howard's  right 
flank  and  parallel  with  a  line  passing  at  right  angles  through  the  centre  of  our 
main  position  from  front  to  rear.  General  Howard  was  at  nearly  the  same  time 
notified  from  headquarters  that  the  enemy  was  in  retreat  to  Gordonsville.  Just 
afterward,  Sickles,  whose  corps  was  well  out  in  the  advance  to  Howard's  left,  sent 
to  him  for  support,  and  he  at  once  prepared  to  move  up  and  join  Sickles's  right. 
Lastly,  at  this  moment,  Hooker  sent  him  orders  to  send  Sickles  a  brigade.  This 
was  a  sufficiently  confused  and  misleading  condition  of  affairs,  and  was  the  more 
unfortunate  because  Hooker's  order,  which  General  Howard  promptly  obeyed,  de 
prived  him  of  his  best  brigade,  and  his  whole  reserve,  Bolan's  ;  the  length  of  his 
line  preventing  him  from  keeping  back  a  larger  force.  He  himself  took  Bolan's 
brigade  to  its  new  position,  and  hurried  back  to  his  headquarters  at  full  gallop, 
arriving  five  minutes  before  Jackson's  attack.  Two  cannon-shot  and  a  tremen 
dous  musketry  fire  announced  the  attack  of  the  rebels,  and  before  General  How 
ard  could  ride  to  the  right  of  his  line  the  furthest  brigade,  Yon  Gilsa's,  a  German 


144  OLIVER      OTIS      HOWARD. 

one,  was  totally  routed,  and  he  met  it  pouring  back  in  utter  disorder.  The  next 
brigade  caught  the  panic.  General  Devens,  commanding  the  division,  was  wounded 
while  trying  to  rally  his  men.  General  Schurz's  division,  posted  next,  became 
disordered  in  its  turn.  The  whole  position  was  effectually  lost,  three  stout  Ger 
man  regiments  only,  xinder  Colonel  Buschbeck,  at  the  extreme  left,  standing  to 
their  colors  and  fighting  it  out  until  completely  outflanked.  All  efforts  to  rally 
the  corps  entirely  failed.  General  Hooker  ordered  up  General  Berry's  division 
of  veterans,  who  took  and  held  bravely  a  defensible  line  some  distance  to  the 
rear,  and  General  Howard  quickly  rallied  a  large  part  of  his  corps  behind  Berry, 
and  when  the  rebels  made  another  attack  at  midnight  was  able  to  bring  his  troops 
up  in  good  order  and  assist  in  repulsing  them. 

In  the  new  line,  to  which  General  Hooker  withdrew  his  forces  on  Sunday 
morning,  the  Eleventh  corps  was  given  the  extreme  left,  on  the  Rappahannock, 
where  it  strongly  intrenched  itself,  and  repulsed  several  attacks  during  Monday 
and  Tuesday.  During  these  two  days  General  Howard  was  constantly  under  fire, 
refusing  to  go  out  of  sight  of  his  front  line,  and  frequently  the  mark  for  deliber 
ate  rebel  sharp-shooting.  While  holding  this  post,  he  took  decisive  precautions 
against  any  unnecessary  repetition  of  Saturday's  misfortune  by  posting  one  of  his 
old  Fair  Oaks  regiments,  the  Sixty-fourth  New- York,  directly  in  the  rear  of 
Gilsa's  brigade,  with  strict  orders  to  shoot  down  any  man  who  should  run  back. 
In  the  night  of.  Tuesday  General  Hooker  recrossed  the  Rappahannock  General 
Howard  had  again  borne  a  noble  and  soldierly  part  in  the  front  of  a  battle  where 
the  army  was  defeated  without  any  fault  of  his. 

Still  remaining  in  command  of  the  Eleventh  corps,  General  Howard  accom 
panied  the  army  of  the  Potomac  in  its  marches,  during  June,  1863,  after  Lee  to 
ward  the  field  of  Gettysburgh,  and,  as  at  Fredericksburgh  and  Chancellorsville, 
was  well  up  in  the  front.  Major-General  Reynolds,  with  the  First  corps,  was 
first  in  the  advance,  and  when,  on  July  first,  he  engaged  the  rebels  beyond  Get- 
tysburgh,  on  the  Cashtown  road,  in  order  to  support  Buford's  cavalry,  he  sent 
back  to  Howard,  whose  corps  was  next  behind,  to  hasten  up.  About  ten  A.M. 
General  Reynolds  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  the  command,  after  devolving  for 
an  hour  and  a  half  on  General  Doubleday,  was  assumed  by  General  Howard,  who 
reached  the  field  at  half-past  eleven,  and  maintained  the  battle  with  the  First  and 
Eleventh  corps  until  four  P.M.,  when  the  accumulating  rebel  force  outflanked  him 
and  made  it  necessary  to  fall  back  through  Gettysburgh  to  the  Cemetery  Hill 
south  of  the  town.  General  Hancock  now  coming  up  and  taking  command  with 
General  Howard,  posted  the  troops  so  strongly  in  this  very  defensible  position 
that  no  further  attack  was  made  that  day.  The  brave  fighting  of  the  Eleventh 
corps  during  this  day  relieved  it  from  the  unpleasant  imputations  which  had 
lain  against  it  since  its  defeat  at  Chancellorsville.  General  Howard's  own  charac- 


OLIVER      OTIS      HOWARD.  145 

teristic  traits  of  steady  and  ready  bravery  and  prudence  were  also  once  more 
conspicuous  in  the  resolute  manner  in  which  he  held  his  position  beyond  Gettys- 
burgh  up  to  the  latest  possible  moment,  and  in  the  coolness,  foresight,  and  skill 
with  which  he  first  fixed  on  the  key-point  of  the  Cemetery,  and  at  the  proper  time 
withdrew  fighting,  occupied  his  new  position  and  held  it  against  all  comers.  On 
the  next  day,  the  second,  at  eight  P.M.,  the  Eleventh  corps  again  repulsed  a  des 
perate  assault  upon  its  position  at  Cemetery  Hill,  inflicting  immense  loss,  and  its 
fighting  was  brave  and  effective  throughout  the  whole  battle. 

When  Eosecrans  was  superseded  by  Grant,  General  Howard  and  his  corps 
were  sent,  as  tried  and  proved  soldiers,  to  reenforce  the  army  of  the  Cumberland, 
and  have  since  formed  part  of  General  Hooker's  command.  After  midnight,  on 
the  night  of  October  twenty-eighth,  General  Howard's  corps,  then  encamped 
under  the  west  slope  of  Lookout  Mountain,  repulsed  a  fierce  night  attack  by 
Longstreet's  corps.  In  this  fight  three  regiments  of  the  Eleventh  corps  (Sev 
enty-third  Ohio,  Thirty-third  Massachusetts,  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth 
New-York)  charged,  routed,  and  drove  from  their  works  the  whole  of  McLaws's 
brigade  of  two  thousand  men,  making  forty  prisoners.  The  brilliant  manoeuvre 
of  which  this  attack  was  part  resulted  in  the  substantial  opening  of  the  water  com 
munication  of  the  Tennessee  to  General  Grant's  army.  In  the  sharp  affair  of 
November  twenty-third,  which  gave  us  the  key  position  of  Orchard  Knob,  in 
front  of  Chattanooga,  the  Eleventh  corps  was  in  reserve.  On  the  twenty-sixth,  it 
was  operating  along  with  Sherman  against  Bragg's  right,  not  effecting  any  direct 
advantage,  but  drawing  the  rebel  troops  that  way  and  leaving  their  centre  weak 
ened  for  the  wonderful  charge  up  the  Missionary  Eidge,  which  gave  us  the 
Eidge,  the  position,  and  the  victory. 

A  cool  exploit  of  the  General  here  deserves  recording.  At  the  time  of  the 
repulse  of  Longstreet  west  of  Lookout,  General  Howard,  in  moving  across  the 
field  with  a  small  cavalry  escort,  came  suddenly  upon  a  body  of  rebel  infantry, 
answered  their  hail  with  "All  right !"  ordered  them  to  approach,  and  then  so 
sternly  and  peremptorily  ordered  them  to  surrender  that  they  promptly  did  so. 

Since  the  brilliant  victory  of  Chattanooga  General  Howard  and  his  faithful 
and  veteran  corps  have  remained  with  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  the 
immediate  command  of  General  Hooker,  participating  in  its  various  operations ; 
but  these  have  not,  so  far,  been  of  a  nature  to  furnish  any  further  history  of  im 
portance. 

In  closing  this  sketch,  it  should  be  added  that  General  Howard,  beside  his 
professional  abilities  as  a  soldier,  is  of  singularly  pure  and  upright  private  charac 
ter,  and  a  professed  and  consistent  Christian. 


SALMON    P.     CHASE. 

~1VT~0  public  man  of  the  day,  the  President  alone  excepted,  holds  so  prominent 
JL  i  a  position  as  the  present  head  of  the  Treasury  Department.  Occupying  a 
post  always  one  of  the  most  important  under  our  system  of  government — though 
popularly  accounted  less  honorable  than  the  Premiership  —  the  present  war  has 
multiplied  a  thousand-fold  the  powers  and  responsibilities  of  the  place,  making  it 
palpable  that,  while  military  affairs  might  stumble  yet  afterward  recover  ground, 
upon  the  successful  management  of  the  finances  hinged  not  the  war  only,  but  the 
very  existence  of  the  body  politic.  Hence  Mr.  Chase  has  been  constantly  in  the 
public  eye,  and  his  policy  has  been  the  object  of  attention  for  all  classes. 
Though  his  public  life  does  not  extend  through  so  many  years  as  some,  his 
services  have  been  such  as  to  make  his  name  familiar  to  his  countrymen.  Like 
many  of  those  who  have  achieved  eminence  in  the  West,  he  is  of  New-England 
stock  and  birth,  having  been  born  in  the  little  town  of  Cornish,  New-Hampshire, 
on  the  thirteenth  of  January,  1808.  When  he  had  reached  his  seventh  year,  his 
father  removed  to  Keene,  in  the  same  State,  where  he  died  two  years  later.  At 
twelve  years  of  age  young  Chase  was  sent  to  Worthington,  Ohio,  to  be  educated 
in  the  care  of  his  uncle  Philander,  who  was  at  that  time  Bishop  of  the  State.  His 
uncle  having  accepted  the  presidency  of  Cincinnati  College,  he  entered  that  insti 
tution,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  he  returned  to  his  former  home  in  New-Hamp 
shire.  In  1824  he  entered  the  Junior  class  of  Dartmouth  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1826.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  left  his  blind  mother  and  his  home 
at  Keene,  at  eighteen  years  of  age,  to  make  his  first  essay  at  practical  life,  friend 
less  and  poor,  with  only  the  capital  of  courage  and  his  recent  education.  He 
made  his  way  to  Washington,  provided  with  a  few  letters  of  introduction,  and  ad 
vertised  in  the  National  Intelligencer  for  pupils,  intending  to  open  a  select  private 
school.  Not  finding  pupils,  he  applied  to  his  uncle  Dudley  Chase,  then  a  Senator 
from  Vermont,  for  assistance  in  gaining  a  clerkship  in  the  Treasury  Department, 
but  his  uncle  refused  to  aid  him  in  that  respect,  and  at  length,  after  several 
months  of  idleness,  he  received  from  a  Mr.  Plumley  the  offer  of  the  transfer  to 
him  of  a  flourishing  boys'  school.  Accepting  this,  the  success  of  his  first  attempt 
in  life  was  established,  and  three  years  after  (1829)  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
the  District  of  Columbia,  having  read  law,  while  teaching  in  the  interim,  with 


SALifON     P.     CHASE.  147 

Hon.  "William  Wirt,  whose  son  was  among  his  pupils.  In  the  spring  of  1830  he 
returned  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  practice  as  a  lawyer  soon 
became  extensive  and  valuable,  and  almost  at  the  outset  of  his  professional  career 
he  entered  upon  the  course  of  consistent  and  earnest  anti-slavery  action  which 
made  his  name  widely  known.  In  1834,  he  became  counsellor  of  the  United 
States  Bank  at  Cincinnati.  In  1837,  he  acted  as  counsel  for  a  woman  claimed  to 
be  a  fugitive  slave,  arguing  that  Congress  possessed  no  constitutional  right  to 
confer  upon  State  magistrates  any  authority  in  such  cases,  and  that  the  act  of 
1793  concerning  fugitives  was  unwarranted  by  the  Constitution,  and  hence  void. 
In  the  same  year,  in  defending  James  Gr.  Birney,  who  was  arraigned  before  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Ohio,  under  State  law,  for  harboring  a  fugitive  slave,  he  an 
nounced  the  doctrine  which  has  been  commonly  held  since  by  the  opponents  of 
slavery  of  all  grades  in  the  North,  that  slavery  is  essentially  local  and  restricted  in 
its  character,  and  that  a  slave  brought  into  a  free  State  by  the  consent  of  his  mas 
ter  cannot  be  reclaimed  by  force.  In  1838  and  1846,  associated  with  Mr.  Seward 
as  defendant's  counsel  in  the  famous  Van  Zandt  case,  before  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  he  argued  the  same  doctrines  more  elaborately,  maintaining  that 
the  clear  understanding  of  the  framers  of  the  Government  was  that  slavery  was 
only  local ;  that  by  the  ordinance  of  1787  no  fugitive  could  be  reclaimed  from 
Ohio  unless  such  fugitive  had  escaped  from  one  of  the  original  States  ;  and  that, 
furthermore,  the  clause  in  the  Constitution  relative  to  persons  held  to  service  or 
labor  was  one  of  compact  between  the  States,  and  gave  to  Congress  no  power  of 
legislation  whatever,  inasmuch  as  it  had  been  transferred  from  the  ordinance  of 
1787,  where  it  conferred  no  such  power  on  the  Confederation,  and  was  never  held 
to  confer  any. 

These  and  other  cases  gave  Mr.  Chase  a  national  reputation,  both  as  a  lawyer 
and  an  anti-slavery  man,  and  a  minute  history  of  his  life  would  be  almost  a  histo 
ry  of  the  anti-slavery  struggle  of  that  period.  Shortly  after,  he  began  to  appear 
in  a  wider  field,  and  in  1841  united  in  a  call  for  an  anti-slavery  convention,  which 
met  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  December  of  that  year,  organizing  what  was  known  as 
the  Liberty  Party  of  the  State,  nominating  candidates  for  office,  and  issuing  an 
address  which  was  written  by  him.  In  1843,  he  was  a  member  of  the  National 
Liberty  Convention,  held  at  Buffalo,  and  was  prominent  in  its  proceedings,  al 
though  dissenting  from  a  resolution  passed  to  treat  the  clause  in  the  Constitution 
relative  to  fugitives  as  null  and  void.  In  1845,  he  projected  a  larger  Liberty  Con 
vention,  which  was  held  at  Cincinnati  in  June.  He  prepared  the  address,  which 
gave  a  historical  sketch  of  slavery  in  the  country,  and  argued  for  the  necessity  of 
a  separate  political  party  to  resist  its  encroachments.  In  a  second  convention, 
two  years  later,  he  opposed  any  general  nomination,  believing  that  the  agitation 
concerning  the  Wilmot  Proviso  would  cause  a  more  general  movement  in  the 


148  SALMON     P.      CHASE. 

anti-slavery  direction.  The  following  year  he  prepared  a  call  for  a  free-territory 
State  Convention  at  Columbus,  which  culminated  in  the  calling  of  a  National  one, 
to  meet  at  Buffalo  in  August  At  this  Convention,  which  nominated  Martin  Van 
Buren  for  President,  Mr.  Chase  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions, 
and  the  resolutions  finally  adopted,  known  as  the  Buffalo  platform,  were  mainly 
his  work. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Chase  first  acted  with  the  Democrats,  yet  supporting  General 
Harrison  in  1840,  and  with  the  avowed  intention  of  deserting  the  party  whenever 
it  should  fall  from  its  anti-slavery  position.  Later,  he  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Free  Democratic  or  Free  Soil  party,  and  after  1854  joined  the  Republican 
organization  formed  at  that  time.  His  formal  entrance  to  political  life  was  in 
1849,  when — on  February  twenty-second — he  was  chosen  United  States  Senator, 
receiving  the  entire  vote  of  the  Democrats  and  of  the  Free-Soil  wing.  His  formal 
withdrawal  from  the  Democratic  party  was  in  1852,  in  consequence  of  the  ap 
proval  of  the  compromises  of  1850  by  the  Democratic  Convention  of  that  year,  at 
which  time  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Mr.  B.  F.  Butler,  of  New- York,  in  favor  of  an 
independent  Democratic  party. 

In  the  Senate  he  continued  his  persistent  hostility  to  slavery.  On  the  twen 
ty-sixth  and  twenty-seventh  of  March,  1850,  he  made  a  speech  in  opposition  to  the 
carefully  prepared  compromise  resolutions  of  Mr.  Clay.  He  moved  an  amend 
ment  to  the  bill  to  organize  New-Mexico  and  Utah,  prohibiting  slavery  therein, 
but  it  failed  by  a  vote  of  twenty  to  twenty-five.  He  also  unsuccessfully  proposed 
an  amendment  to  the  Fugitive  Slave  Bill,  securing  trial  by  jury,  and  another 
which  excluded  from  the  operation  of  the  bill  persons  escaping  from  States  to 
Territories,  and  vice  versa.  In  1854,  he  drafted  an  appeal  to  the  people  against 
the  Nebraska  Bill,  which  was  signed  by  members  of  Congress,  and  on  February 
third  he  made  the  first  elaborate  speech  in  opposition  to  the  measure.  An  amend 
ment  of  Mr.  Douglas,  declaring  the  Missouri  restriction  inoperative  and  void,  be 
ing  under  consideration,  Mr.  Chase  moved  to  strike  out  the  words  that  the  re 
striction  "was  superseded  by  the  principles  of  the  legislation  of  1850,  commonly 
called  the  compromise  measures."  This  was  lost  by  a  vote  of  thirteen  to  thirty. 
His  next  amendment  proposed  to  add  to  the  words,  in  section  fourteen  of  the  bill, 
"  subject  only  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,"  the  following,  "  Under 
which  the  people  of  the  territory,  through  their  appropriate  representatives,  may, 
if  they  see  fit,  prohibit  the  existence  of  slavery  therein ;"  but  this  also  was  lost 
by  ten  to  thirty-six.  His  third  amendment,  defeated  by  ten  to  thirty,  pro 
posed  the  appointment  of  three  commissioners,  residing  in  the  territory,  to  organ 
ize  it  and  divide  it  into  election  districts,  allowing  the  people  to  choose  their 
own  Governor  and  Legislature. 

In  July,  1855,  Mr.  Chase  was  nominated  by  the  anti-slavery  men  for  Gov- 


SALMON     P.      CHASE.  149 

ernor  of  Ohio,  and  elected  in  the  fall.  During  1857,  he  succeeded  in  saving  the 
State  from  pecuniary  loss  and  the  greater  loss  of  its  credit  by  the  default  of  the 
Treasurer,  in  whose  accounts  a  deficit  of  over  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  had 
been  discovered.  The  new  administration  of  the  State  Government  was  conduct 
ed  with  singular  prudence  and  success ;  and  in  1857  Governor  Chase  was  re- 
elected  by  the  largest  majority  ever  given  in  Ohio.  In  1859,  he  was  succeeded  by 
Governor  Dennison. 

Keceiving  the  Treasury  Department  from  the  hands  of  General  Dix,  his  im 
mediate  predecessor,  in  March,  1861,  he  found  the  National  finances  hardly  re 
vived  from  the  exhaustion  and  paralysis  in  which  they  were  left  by  Secretary 
Howell  Cobb.  The  task  imposed  upon  him  was  gigantic,  and  failure  in  it  would 
have  ruined  all  at  the  outset.  The  funds  at  his  disposal  were  scanty  enough,  and 
the  credit  of  the  Government  was  nominal  abroad  and  at  the  lowest  ebb  at  home ; 
the  depleted  Treasury  must  be  immediately  replenished  to  meet  the  calls  of  what 
was  plainly  to  be  the  most  costly  war  in  all  history,  and  it  was  fortunate  for  the 
country  that  Mr.  Chase's  name  possessed  the  popular  favor.  Meeting  the  direct 
ing  parties  of  the  principal  banks  in  person,  he  was  able  to  effect  from  them  a 
temporary  and  timely  relief.  The  history  of  his  financial  administration  is  too 
recent  to  require  recapitulation  here,  but  it  was  plain  that  a  resort  to  loans  and 
the  issuing  of  Government  paper  was  not  a  matter  of  choice  at  the  time.  The 
ability  and  success  with  which  Mr.  Chase  has  wielded  his  affairs  is  everywhere 
conceded  ;  his  most  determined  opponents  find  no  fault  with  his  system  in  itself, 
but  only  in  his  continued  adherence  to  it.  The  point  of  difference  between  them 
and  his  adherents  is  concerning  the  limit  and  the  time  to  which  the  plan  of  paper 
issues  should  be  carried. 

Mr.  Chase  is  a  man  of  personal  attraction,  and  has  the  power  of  winning 
friends  and  avoiding  the  making  of  enemies.  Being  now  in  his  fifty-ninth  year, 
his  active  political  life  is  nearly  closed,  in  human  probability  ;  but,  although  he 
he  has  held  office  for  a  smaller  term  of  years  than  many  others,  he  has  always 
been  in  one  sense  a  public  man,  and  has  won  the  position  of  one  of  the  foremost 
men  of  the  time.  Until  recently  his  distinction  was  that  of  an  anti-slavery  leader, 
at  a  period  when  the  popular  mind  was  very  impatient  of  anti-slavery  agitation. 
Hazarding  success  for  his  adherence  to  this  principle,  he  still  adheres  to  it,  yet 
carefully  avoiding  any  alliance  with  the  so-called  Abolition  party,  as  when  he  op 
posed  a  resolution  declaring  the  clause  relative  to  fugitives  null  and  void  ;  and  in 
the  Senate  he  joined  the  small  minority  of  the  anti-slavery  part.  As  with  the 
leaders  of  the  Southern  interest  in  Congress,  he  made  the  principle  for  which  he 
stood  superior  to  his  party,  and  deserted  his  party  for  it.  He  won  new  honor  in 
each  office  he  assumed,  yet  his  chief  distinction  is  in  his  administration  of  the 
National  finances.  The  record  of  this  will  be  the  record  of  the  crowning  position 
in  his  useful  public  life. 


JOHE"   POPE. 

JOHN  POPE  was  born  in  the  state  of  Kentucky,  March  12th,  1823.  His 
father,  Governor  Nathaniel  Pope,  of  Virginia,  emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  the 
early  part  of  the  present  century,  and,  during  the  infancy  of  his  son,  removed 
with  his  family  to  Kaskaskia,  Illinois.  He  was  a  delegate  to  Congress  from 
Illinois  before  its  organization  as  a  state,  and  was  subsequently  for  many  years 
United  States  district  judge,  an  office  which  he  filled  with  eminent  ability  and 
fidelity.  After  receiving  a  careful  preliminary  education,  young  Pope  was  ad 
mitted  in  1838  a  cadet  in  the  West  Point  military  academy,  where  he  was  grad 
uated  in  1842,  standing  high  in  a  class  which  numbered  among  its  members 
Generals  Eosecrans  and  Doubleday  of  the  Union  army,  and  the  rebel  Generals 
Gustavus  W.  Smith,  Lovell,  Longstreet,  Yan  Dorn,  and  others.  In  July  of  the 
same  year  he  was  commissioned  brevet  second-lieutenant  in  the  corps  of  topo 
graphical  engineers.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  he  was 
attached  to  the  army  under  General  Taylor,  and  for  "  gallant  and  meritorious" 
conduct  at  the  battle  of  Monterey  was  breveted  a  first-lieutenant,  his  commission 
bearing  date  September  23d,  1846.  For  "  highly  gallant  and  meritorious  con 
duct"  on  the  hard-fought  field  of  Buena  Vista  he  was  breveted  a  captain,  his 
commission  being  dated  February  23d,  1847 ;  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  war, 
the  state  of  Illinois  testified  its  sense  of  the  importance  of  his  services  by  pre 
senting  him  with  a  sword. 

Thenceforth  for  many  years  Captain  Pope  was  chiefly  employed,  in  common 
with  other  officers  of  engineers,  on  the  surveying  and  exploring  expeditions  which 
have  opened  to  travel  and  emigration  the  vast  and  comparatively  unknown  re 
gions  lying  between  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Pacific  Ocean.  In 
1849,  he  conducted  an  expedition  into  the  northern  portions  of  Minnesota,  and 
demonstrated  the  practicability  of  navigating  the  Eed  Kiver  of  the  North  with 
steamers,  for  which  service  he  received  a  vote  of  thanks  from  the  territorial 
legislature. 

After  several  years'  service  in  New  Mexico,  Captain  Pope  was,  in  1853,  ap 
pointed  to  command  one  of  the  six  expeditions  organized  by  the  war  department, 
under  an  act  of  Congress,  to  ascertain  the  most  practicable  route  for  a  railroad 
from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Pacific,  and  was  directed  to  explore  the  thirty-second 


11  MIX     POPE     U     S     A 


JOHN      POPE.  151 

parallel  from  Red  River  to  the  Rio  Grande.  His  survey,  completed  in  the  sum 
mer  of  1854,  was  stated  by  Jefferson  Davis,  then  secretary  of  war,  to  have  been 
"creditably  performed  under  the  most  disadvantageous  circumstances."  In  con 
nection  with  this  enterprise  he  explored,  in  1855-'66,  the  Llano  Estacado,  or 
Staked  Plain,  in  Texas  and  New  Mexico,  and  made  some  experiments  in  Arte 
sian-well  boring,  with  a  view  to  determine  the  feasibility  of  obtaining  a  supply 
of  water  for  railroad  or  other  purposes.  In  July,  1856,  he  was  advanced  to  the 
full  rank  of  captain,  and  during  the  next  three  years  his  time  was  principally 
occupied  with  engineering  duties  in  the  "Western  military  department. 

Obtaining  a  leave  of  absence  for  the  year  1860,  Captain  Pope  entered  zeal 
ously  into  the  presidential  canvass,  and  was  a  warm  supporter  of  Mr.  Lincoln. 
When  the  clouds  of  civil  war  began  to  gather  on  the  horizon,  he  was  not  back 
ward  to  proclaim  the  necessity  of  vigorous  measures  on  the  part  of  the  govern 
ment  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the  Union ;  expressing  opinions  which,  if 
contrary  to  the  etiquette  of  the  service,  as  understood  by  some  members  of  his 
profession,  were  nevertheless  eminently  patriotic,  and,  amid  the  positive  defection 
of  many  of  the  regular  army  officers  and  the  apparent  lukewarmness  of  others, 
were  gratefully  received  by  the  people  of  the  loyal  states.  For  some  severe  stric 
tures  on  the  temporizing  policy  of  President  Buchanan,  to  which  he  gave  utter 
ance  in  a  lecture  on  fortifications,  delivered  in  Cincinnati,  in  February,  1861,  he 
was  court-martialled  by  order  of  the  President ;  but  by  the  advice  of  Mr.  Holt, 
secretary  of  war,  the  matter  was  dropped,  the  government  having  matters  of 
graver  import  to  occupy  its  attention.  Captain  Pope  accordingly  resumed  his 
command  in  the  engineer  corps,  and  was  one  of  the  officers  detailed  by  the  war 
department  to  escort  President  Lincoln  to  Washington. 

On  May  3d,  1861,  the  President  issued  a  call  for  forty-two  thousand  volun 
teers  to  serve  for  three  years  or  the  war ;  and  on  the  17th  of  the  month,  Captain 
Pope  was  commissioned  a  brigadier-general  in  that  force,  and  appointed  to  a 
command  in  Northern  Missouri,  then  swarming  with  secession  sympathizers, 
who,  at  the  instigation  of  the  traitor  governor,  Jackson,  were  obstructing  railroad 
travel,  and  committing  depredations  on  private  property.  On  July  19th,  he 
issued  a  proclamation  to  the  people  of  North  Missouri,  warning  them  against 
unlawful  combinations,  and  during  the  next  few  weeks  prosecuted  a  vigorous 
war  against  bridge-burners  and  guerillas,  who  soon  discovered  that  General 
Pope's  department  was  no  place  for  their  operations.  After  the  arrival  of  Gen 
eral  Halleck  at  St.  Louis,  in  November,  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  Western 
department,  General  Pope  was  detailed  to  active  duty  in  Central  Missouri ;  and 
on  December  13th,  in  co-operation  with  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  he  surprised 
and  captured  at  Blackwater  nearly  two  thousand  rebel  recruits  for  Price's  army. 
Then,  marching  rapidly  upon  Shawnee  Mound,  he  succeeded  in  the  brief  space 


152  JOHN     POPE. 

often  days  in  driving  the  rebel  forces  completely  out  of  that  part  of  the  country. 
These  services,  widely  and  gratefully  acknowledged  by  the  public,  suggested 
him  to  General  Halleck  as  a  competent  officer  to  command  the  army  of  the  Mis 
sissippi,  destined  to  co-operate,  with  the  opening  of  the  spring,  in  the  general 
movement  of  the  Western  troops  against  the  enemy. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1862,  General  Pope  assumed  command  of  a  well- 
appointed  army  at  Commerce,  Missouri,  and  a  few  days  later  marched  upon  New 
Madrid,  where  a  force  of  ten  thousand  rebels,  under  General  Jefferson  Thompson, 
was  intrenched  in  a  strong  position,  defended  by  many  heavy  guns,  and  covered 
by  a  fleet  of  gunboats.  During  a  delay  occasioned  by  the  failure  to  receive  his 
siege-guns  from  Cairo,  he  dispatched  a  portion  of  his  force  to  Point  Pleasant, 
twelve  miles  below  New  Madrid,  thus  establishing  an  efficient  blockade  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  preventing  the  arrival  of  supplies  to  the  rebels  from  below.  At 
sunset,  on  the  12th  of  March,  the  siege-guns  arrived ;  on  the  same  night  they 
were  placed  in  battery,  within  eight  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  main  work ; 
and  at  daylight,  on  the  13th,  a  heavy  fire  was  opened.  The  enemy  withstood 
the  attack  during  the  day,  but  on  the  night  of  the  13th  precipitately  abandoned 
their  works,  and  took  refuge  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  leaving  upward  of 
sixty  guns,  several  thousand  small-arms,  and  equipments,  stores,  and  munitions, 
of  the  value  of  nearly  a  million  of  dollars. 

The  rebels,  however,  still  occupied  Island  Number  Ten,  commanding  the 
river  above  New  Madrid ;  and  General  Pope,  being  without  the  means  of  trans 
porting  his  troops  to  the  Kentucky  shore,  could  not  immediately  pursue  his 
advantage.  On  the  17th,  Flag-Officer  Foote,  with  his  flotilla  of  gunboats  and 
mortar-boats,  opened  fire  upon  Island  Number  Ten  from  above ;  but  the  work 
proving  of  far  greater  strength  than  he  had  anticipated,  it  became  evident  that, 
without  the  assistance  of  a  land-force,  operating  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  the 
siege  might  be  protracted  for  months.  But  General  Pope  had  no  transports,  to 
cross  the  river  below  the  island ;  and  the  inundated  state  of  the  country  rendered 
it  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  march  his  troops  to  the  vicinity  of  the  flotilla. 
Availing  himself,  in  this  emergency,  of  the  suggestion  o^  General  Schuyler  Ham 
ilton,  one  of  his  generals  of  division,  he  ordered  a  canal  twelve  miles  long  to  be 
cut  across  the  neck  of  land  formed  by  a  bend  in  the  river  opposite  the  island, 
with  a  view  of  floating  transports  down  it  to  his  assistance.  The  work  was  com 
pleted  within  three  weeks,  and  on  the  7th  of  April  a  number  of  transports  and 
gunboats  passed  through.  The  embarkation  of  troops  at  Xew  Madrid  was  com 
menced  on  the  same  day,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  9th  ne  thousand  Union 
soldiers  were  landed  on  the  Kentucky  shore.  The  enemy  - 1  once  surrendered 
their  costly  works  on  Island  Number  Ten,  with  an  immeLi.-t  :  mount  of  material 
of  war ;  and  Pope,  pushing  on  a  division,  under  General  Pame,  to  Tiptonville, 


JOHN     POPE.  153 

succeeded  in  capturing  upward  of  five  thousand  retreating  rebels,  including  three 
generals,  seven  colonels,  and  several  hundred  inferior  officers,  together  with  an 
immense  amount  of  spoils.  For  these  successes  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  major- 
general,  his  commission  dating  from  March  21st. 

Flushed  with  victory,  and  with  the  applause  of  the  country  ringing  in  his 
ears,  General  Pope  proceeded  down  the  Mississippi,  to  attack  Fort  Pillow,  but 
was  arrested  in  his  course  by  an  order  from  General  Halleck,  directing  him  to 
repair  with  his  troops  to  Pittsburg  Landing.  Within  five  days  after  receiving 
the  order,  his  entire  force  was  at  Hamburg,  four  miles  from  Pittsburg,  occupying 
a  position  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Union  line.  He  received  the  command  of 
one  of  the  three  grand  divisions  into  which  General  Halleck  divided  his  army, 
and  showed  characteristic  activity  in  the  sharp  actions  which  preceded  the  with 
drawal  of  the  enemy  into  his  defensive  works  at  Corinth ;  succeeding  on  one 
occasion,  by  a  brilliant  piece  of  strategy,  in  capturing  a  considerable  number  of 
prisoners.  After  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  on  May  80th,  he  pursued  the  retreat 
ing  army  under  General  Beauregard  down  the  Mobile  railroad,  securing  many 
prisoners  and  large  quantities  of  munitions ;  and  while  engaged  in  this  duty,  he 
was  summoned  by  the  President  to  "Washington,  and  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  "  army  of  Virginia,"  comprising  the  combined  corps  of  Generals  Fremont, 
Banks,  and  McDowell,  then  stationed  along  the  Potomac,  and  in  front  of  "Wash 
ington.  These  officer^  were  all  his  seniors  in  rank,  but,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
President,  the  exigencies  of  the  service  demanded  that  he  should  be  placed  over 
them. 

Before  General  Pope  could  commence  the  organization  of  his  command,  the 
series  of  reverses  before  Richmond,  consequent  upon  General  McClellan's  trans 
ferring  his  base  of  operations  to  the  James  River,  brought  dismay  to  the  govern 
ment  and  people,  and  rendered  necessary  an  entire  change  in  the  plans  of  the 
campaign.  On  the  14th  of  July,  the  new  general  issued  an  address  to  his  troops, 
breathing  the  most  ardent  spirit  of  enterprise ;  and  on  the  29th — the  President 
having  in  the  mean  time  decided  to  remove  the  army  of  McClellan  from  the  pen 
insula — he  took  the  field  in  person,  establishing  his  head-quarters  at  "Warrenton, 
Virginia.  As  the  readiest  means  of  diverting  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from 
McClellan,  Pope  was  ordered  to  make  a  demonstration  in  force  upon  Richmond ; 
and  immediately  a  forward  movement,  which  had  been  preceded  by  several  dash 
ing  cavalry  reconnoissances,  was  commenced  by  his  whole  army.  Reconnoitring 
parties  crossed  the  Rapidan  River,  and  pushed  forward  to  Orange  Court-House 
and  other  points  ;  and  on  August  9th,  the  corps  of  General  Banks  fought  a  well- 
contested  battle  with  the  rebels  under  Jackson  at  Cedar  Mountain.  The  latter 
fell  back  on  the  llth,  and  Pope  immediately  brought  his  whole  force  up  to  the 
line  of  the  Rapidan.  Under  cover  of  these  movements,  the  army  of  McClellan 


154  JOHN    POPE. 

evacuated  its  position  at  Harrison's  Landing  on  the  14th  and  loth,  -without  mo 
lestation,  and  the  enemy  at  once  prepared  to  fall  upon  and  crush  Pope  before 
reinforcements  could  reach  him. 

On  the  17th  and  18th,  Pope  withdrew  his  whole  army  behind  the  Kappa- 
hannock,  and,  being  in  too  feeble  force  to  defend  that  line,  subsequently  fell  back 
as  far  as  Warrenton,  in  the  expectation  that  a  portion  of  McClellan's  troops  would 
meet  him  there,  or  be  within  supporting  distance.  A  rebel  corps  under  Jackson 
meanwhile  made  a  flank  movement  on  Pope's  right,  and,  passing  through  Thor 
oughfare  Gap,  took  possession  of  the  old  defensive  works  at  Manassas,  which 
Pope  supposed  had  been  occupied,  in  accordance  with  his  orders,  by  two  divisions 
of  McClellan's  army.  The  contrary  proving  to  be  the  case,  Pope  marched  rapidly 
in  three  columns  toward  Manassas ;  and  on  the  28th,  29th,  and  30th,  a  series  of 
desperate  battles  was  fought,  resulting  in  the  discomfiture  of  the  federal  forces, 
who  retired  across  Bull  Eun  to  the  strong  position  of  Centreville.  The  advan 
tage  on  the  28th  and  29th  rested  with  the  federal  troops ;  and  General  Pope  has 
asserted,  in  his  official  dispatch,  that  if  General  Fitz- John  Porter  had  attacked 
the  enemy  in  flank  on  the  latter  day,  as  he  had  been  ordered  to  do,  Jackson 
would  have  been  utterly  routed  before  the  rebel  reinforcements  under  Lee  could 
reach  him.  On  the  evening  of  that  day  the  junction  of  the  enemy's  forces  was 
effected,  and  the  defeat  of  Pope,  confronted  on  the  30th  by  superior  numbers,  was 
the  consequence.  The  army  subsequently  retired  in  good  order  to  "Washington  ; 
and  on  September  3d,  General  Pope  was  at  his  own  request  relieved  of  his  com 
mand — having  first,  in  a  well-written  dispatch,  stated  what  he  claimed  to  have 
been  the  obstacles  to  his  success.  He  also  preferred  charges  of  insubordination 
against  three  of  McClellan's  generals,  and  demanded  a  court  of  inquiry,  which 
was  granted.  At  the  special  request  of  General  McClellan,  proceedings  were 
stayed ;  and  the  public  are  accordingly  for  the  present  unable  to  form  a  correct 
judgment  with  regard  to  the  facts  connected  with  the  late  battles  before  Wash 
ington,  and  the  motives  of  the  principal  actors  in  them. 

General  Pope  was  immediately  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  department 
of  the  North-west,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  protecting  the  inhabitants  from 
threatened  attacks  of  the  Indian  tribes. 


ALEXANDER    II.   STEPHENS. 


ALEXANDER    H.    STEPHENS. 

A  LTIIOUGH  the  position  held  by  Mr.  Stephens  in  the  present  rebellion  is 
J.JL  but  nominal,  yet,  taking  into  view  the  whole  of  the  more  than  thirty  years' 
war  which  preceded  it,  he  will  hereafter  be  named  in  connection  with  Calhoun, 
of  whom  he  was  a  faithful  follower.  For  some  years  he  has  been  in  private  life, 
yet  he  has  always  been  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  sagacious  of  the  representa 
tives  of  the  Southern  policy,  and  his  influence  was  powerfully  though  secretly  felt 
in  bringing  about  the  issue  of  the  struggle. 

He  was  born  in  Taliaferro  County,  Georgia,  February  eleventh,  1812,  and 
graduated  at  Franklin  College,  Athens,  Georgia,  in  1832.  Choosing  and  study 
ing  the  law,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1834,  and  soon  obtained  a  lucrative 
practice  in  the  town  of  Crawfordsville,  in  his  native  county.  In  1836,  he  was 
sent  to  the  Georgia  House  of  Representatives,  where  he  exerted  himself  in  secur 
ing  legislative  aid  for  certain  internal  improvements  ;  and  such  was  his  popularity 
that  he  was  reflected  for  five  successive  terms.  In  1839,  he  went  as  a  delegate  to 
the  Southern  Commercial  Convention,  held  at  Charleston,  in  which  he  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  quarrel  which  then  existed  between  Georgia  and  South- 
Carolina  relative  to  a  real  or  supposed  conflict  between  the  interests  of  these  two 
States.  Three  years  after,  (1842,)  he  was  chosen  State  Senator,  and  while  acting 
in  that  capacity  he  was  a  zealous  supporter  and  member  of  the  Whig  party,  as  he 
continued  to  be  until  the  close  of  the  Nebraska  struggle  of  1854.  In  1843,  he 
was  nominated  for  Congress,  and  although  his  district  was  Democratic  and  his 
party  had  previously  been  in  a  minority  of  two  thousand,  his  personal  strength 
with  the  people  gave  him  the  election  by  more  than  three  thousand  majority,  and 
his  faithfulness  to  his  section  and  the  popular  appreciation  of  his  ability  are  at 
tested  by  the  fact  that  he  held  his  seat  as  representative  in  Congress  until  his  vol 
untary  retirement  in  1859. 

He  was  a  supporter  of  Henry  Clay  in  the  Presidential  canvass  of  1844,  but 
was  also  a  prominent  advocate  of  the  plan  for  annexing  Texas,  in  opposition  to 
Mr.  Clay  and  to  most  of  the  Southern  members  of  his  party  in  Congress.  Upon 
a  motion  by  Mr.  John  P.  Hale,  of  New-Hampshire  —  then  a  Democratic  Repre 
sentative  —  that  the  new  territory  of  Texas  be  divided  into  two  equal  parts,  from 
one  of  which  slavery  should  be  for  ever  excluded,  Mr.  Stephens  (January  tenth, 
1845)  voted,  with  but  two  others  from  the  South,  to  suspend  the  rules  for  its  ad- 


156  ALEXANDER     H.      STEPHENS. 

mission.  Conjointly  with.  Milton  Brown,  of  Tennessee,  lie  wrote  an  amendment 
to  the  joint  resolution  as  finally  passed,  providing  that  States  which  might  be 
formed  of  the  new  territory  south  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  line  should  be  ad 
mitted  to  the  Union  with  or  without  slavery,  as  the  inhabitants  might  determine, 
but  that  north  of  the  line  slavery  should  be  prohibited.  In  the  following  Con 
gress  he  opposed  the  Clayton  Compromise,  (1848,)  but  was  a  leader  in  effecting 
that  of  1850.  He  had  previously,  in  1847,  drafted  a  series  of  resolutions  upon 
the  subject  of  the  Mexican  war,  which  were  afterward  adopted  as  a  part  of  the 
platform  of  the  Whig  party.  In  1854,  although  not  the  formal  manager  of  the 
Nebraska  bill  in  the  House,  he  was  a  leader  in  its  support,  and  by  adroitly  using 
his  skill  in  parliamentary  law,  when,  in  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  he  success 
fully  moved  that  the  enacting  clause  be  stricken  out,  he  probably  saved  the  mea 
sure  from  defeat,  thus  cutting  off  the  amendments  by  which  its  opponents  hoped 
to  destroy  it.  Upon  the  dissolution  of  the  Whig  party  after  the  first  Kansas 
struggle  in  Congress,  Mr.  Stephens  became  a  Democrat,  and  in  1858  steadily  sus 
tained  the  Lecompton  Constitution.  At  the  close  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Congress 
(1859)  he  declined  to  be  a  candidate  for  reelection,  his  health  always  having  been 
feeble,  and  he  has  since  taken  no  active  part  in  political  life.  At  that  time  he 
informed  his  constituents  that  the  country  was  profoundly  quiet,  and  congratulated 
them  upon  that  condition,  declaring  that  he  saw  no  danger  to  the  Union  or  to 
Southern  security  under  it,  to  which  last  (he  said)  the  Union  was,  and  ought  to  be, 
subordinate. 

The  disturbances  following  the  Presidential  election  in  1860  called  him  from 
his  retirement,  and  he  has  since  made  a  number  of  speeches,  defending  the  Union 
and  deprecating  secession,  until  the  subsequent  spring.  November  fourteenth, 
1860,  before  the  Georgia  Legislature,  he  declared  his  conviction  that  secession  was 
unjustifiable.  In  his  own  words  : 

"  To  make  a  point  of  resistance  to  the  Government,  to  withdraw  from  it  be 
cause  a  man  has  been  constitutionally  elected,  puts  us  in  the  wrong. 
We  went  into  the  election  with  this  people.  The  result  was  different  from  what 
we  wished  ;  but  the  election  has  been  constitutionally  held.  Were  we  to  make  a 
point  of  resistance  to  the  Government,  or  go  out  of  the  Union  on  that  account, 
the  record  would  be  made  up  hereafter  against  us." 

On  the  twenty-second  of  April  following,  he  made  a  secession  speech  at  Kich- 
mond,  having  been  chosen  Vice-President  of  the  Confederacy  by  Congress  on  the 
ninth  of  February,  at  which  time  he  accepted  the  office  in  person.  On  the  night 
of  the  thirtieth  of  April,  he  made  a  violent  war  speech  at  Atlanta,  Georgia,  charg 
ing  the  responsibility  upon  the  North,  and  declaring  that  the  South  would  call  out 
million  after  million,  till  the  last  man  fell,  rather  than  be  conquered.  Should 
Maryland  secede,  the  District  of  Columbia  would  fall  to  her  by  revisionary  right, 


ALEXANDER   II.   STEPHENS.  157 

as  Fort  Sumter  had  fallen  to  South-Carolina,  Fort  Pickens  to  Florida,  and  Pulaski 
-to  Georgia;  "and  when  we  have  the  right  we  will  demand  the  surrender  of 
Washington,  just  as  we  did  in  the  other  cases,  and  will  enforce  our  demands  at 
every  hazard  and  at  whatever  cost." 

On  the  eleventh  of  July,  he  made  an  ingenious  and  persuasive  speech  to  the 
cotton-planters  at  Augusta,  Georgia,  in  behalf  of  the  confederate  cotton  loan.  On 
the  sixth  of  November,  he  was  chosen  Vice-President  under  the  Constitution,  but 
his  principal  labor  for  the  cause  has  consisted  in  travelling  over  the  country  and 
delivering  public  addresses,  although  for  two  years  past  he  has  lived  in  seclusion. 
In  the  spring  of  1861,  shortly  after  his  election  as  Vice-President,  he  delivered  at 
Savannah  the  most  remarkable  of  his  speeches.  As  an  exposition  of  the  scope 
and  aim  of  the  new  Confederacy,  put  forth  by  its  acknowledged  apostle,  this 
speech  will  be  preserved  in  history,  and  the  following  extracts  are  worthy  of 
record  here : 

"  The  new  Constitution  has  put  at  rest  for  ever  all  the  agitating  questions  re 
lating  to  our  peculiar  institution — African  slavery  as  it  exists  among  us — the  pro 
per  status  of  the  negro  in  our  form  of  civilization.  This  was  the  immediate  cause 
of  the  late  rupture  and  the  present  revolution.  Jefferson,  in  his  forecast,  had 
anticipated  this  as  the  rock  on  which  the  old  Union  would  split.  He  was  right ; 
what  was  conjecture  with  him  is  now  a  realized  fact.  But  whether  he  fully  com 
prehended  the  great  truth  upon  which  that  rock  stood  and  stands  may  be  doubt 
ed.  The  prevailing  ideas  entertained  by  him  and  most  of  the  leading  statesmen 
at  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  old  Constitution  were  that  the  enslavement  of 
the  African  was  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  nature ;  that  it  was  wrong  in  principle, 
socially,  morally,  and  politically.  It  was  an  evil  they  knew  not  well  how  to  deal 
with  ;  but  the  general  opinion  of  the  men  of  that  time  was  that  somehow  or  other, 
in  the  order  of  Providence,  the  institution  would  be  evanescent  and  pass  away. 
.  .  .  The  Constitution,  it  is  true,  gave  every  essential  guarantee  to  the  institu 
tion  while  it  should  last,  and  hence  no  argument  can  be  justly  used  against  the 
constitutional  guarantees  thus  secured.  .  .  .  Those  ideas,  however,  were 
fundamentally  wrong.  They  rested  upon  the  assumption  of  the  equality  of  races. 
This  was  an  error.  .  .  .  Our  new  government  is  founded  upon  exactly  the 
opposite  ideas ;  its  foundations  are  laid,  its  corner-stone  rests,  upon  the  great 
truth  that  the  negro  is  not  equal  to  the  white  man  ;  that  slavery,  subordination  to 
the  superior  race,  is  his  natural  and  normal  condition.  This,  our  new  govern 
ment,  is  the  first  in  the  history  of  the  world  based  upon  this  great  physical,  philo 
sophical,  and  moral  truth.  .  .  .  Ours  is  the  first  government  ever  instituted 
upon  principles  in  strict  conformity  to  nature  and  the  ordination  of  Providence  in 
furnishing  the  materials  of  human  society.  Many  governments  have  been  formed 
upon  the  principle  of  enslaving  certain  classes  ;  but  the  classes  thus  enslaved  were 


158  ALEXANDER  H.   STEPHENS. 

of  the  same  race  and  in  violation  of  the  laws  of  nature.  Our  system  commits  no 
such  violation  of  natural  laws.  The  negro  by  nature  or  by  the  curse  against 
Canaan  is  fitted  for  that  condition  which  he  occupies  in  our  system.  The  archi 
tect,  in  the  construction  of  a  building,  lays  the  foundation  with  the  proper  mate 
rial — granite — then  comes  the  brick  or  marble.  The  substratum  of  our  society  is 
made  of  the  material  fitted  by  nature  for  it,  and  by  experience  we  know  that  it  is 
the  best,  not  only  for  the  superior  but  for  the  inferior  race.  .  .  .  This  stone 
which  was  rejected  by  the  first  builders  is  become  the  chief  stone  of  the  corner  in 
our  new  edifice." 

This  speech  boldly  admits  what  had  always  been  claimed  by  the  North  re 
specting  the  sentiment  of  the  founders  of  the  republic,  and  flings  the  gauntlet  to 
the  whole  world,  openly  declaring  that  the  principle  of  the  inequality  of  races  and 
the  natural  subordination  of  the  negro  must  finally  triumph,  even  against  the 
world. 

Mr.  Stephens's  political  life  becomes  consistent  by  remembering  that  he  was 
a  champion  of  Southern  interests  and  policy  throughout.  While  Mr.  Mason,  of 
Virginia,  was  the  leader  in  the  Senate,  Mr.  Stephens  for  years  held  a  like  position 
in  the  House,  and  his  rare  fitness  for  that  work  was  conceded.  He  was  a  shrewd 
debater,  specious  when  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  question  ;  and  for  sagacity  and 
devotion  to  the  Southern  cause  no  one  has  exceeded  him  since  Calhoun.  His 
position  in  1860  must  be  interpreted  by  himself  a  year  later  ;  and  hence  it  appears 
that  the  double  charge  of  cleaving  to  the  Union  and  then  going  heartily  over  to 
secession  cannot  be  proved  upon  him.  His  preference  for  the  Union  and  his  op 
position  to  secession  were  unquestionably  sincere,  but  they  must  be  judged  by  his 
remark  in  1859,  that  the  Union  was,  and  ought  to  be,  subordinate  to  Southern 
security.  Thinking  the  old  Union  safer  and  better  than  any  new  form,  he  clung 
to  the  old  while  it  was  possible. 

The  state  of  his  health  forbade  his  taking  any  active  part  in  the  rebellion, 
but  gave  him  the  position  of  its  recognized  spokesman,  for  which  he  was  the  fit 
test  man  in  its  territory.  He  spoke  to  the  world  of  what  the  Confederacy  was 
and  meant  to  be ;  and  to  the  people,  to  settle  in  their  minds  the  ideas  on  which 
the  revolution  was  based.  The  popular  trust  in  him  was  always  high,  both  as 
orator  and  as  statesman.  In  no  other  way  could  he  have  rendered  the  rebellion 
so  effectual  service  as  with  his  voice,  and  it  is  in  this  connection  that  his  name 
will  be  known  in  the  history  of  the  time. 


O.     B.     WILLOOX. 

ENERAL  0.  B.  WILLCOX  was  bom  at  Detroit  in  1823.  In  1842,  he 
received  an  appointment  to  the  Military  Academy  at  "West-Point,  gradu 
ated  with  honor,  being  eighth  in  a  very  large  class,  in  1847,  and  was  assigned  the 
position  of  second  lieutenant  in  the  Fourth  artillery,  no  higher  grade  having  been 
given  to  any  of  the  graduates  of  that  class. 

Ordered  to  Mexico,  he  was  connected  with  Drumm's  famous  battery,  and  re 
mained  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  afterward  stationed  at  Pensacola, 
Florida ;  on  the  plains  of  Arkansas ;  Fort  Washington,  Virginia ;  Fort  Ontario, 
New- York  ;  Fort  Mifflin,  Pennsylvania ;  and  at  Fort  Independence,  Boston  Harbor. 
Here  he  was  called  to  perform  a  most  signal  service  to  the  country,  in  quelling 
the  famous  Burns  Riot,  and  in  the  performance  of  the  duty  assigned  him,  indi 
cated  the  possession  of  those  soldierly  qualities  of  command,  eminently  fitting 
him  for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  .those  high  positions  which,  in  the  progress 
of  this  rebellion,  he  has  been  called .  to  fill.  On  that  occasion  a  requisition  was 
made  for  United  States  troops  at  the  dead  of  night.  General  Willcox  (then  Lieu 
tenant)  was  detailed,  and  crossing  to  Boston  with  his  men,  led  them  in  the  face 
of  that  most  dangerous  enemy,  an  infuriated  mob,  with  that  resolute  bravery  and 
prudent  forbearance  which  alone  prevented  the  most  terrible  bloodshed.  To  his 
firmness  and  prudence  on  that  occasion  was  attributed  the  peaceable  enforcement 
of  the  law. 

After  leaving  Fort  Independence,  he  performed  most  disagreeable  and  ardu 
ous  duty  in  Texas,  and  immediately  afterward  was  ordered  to  the  swamps  of  Flo 
rida,  where  he  spent  a  year  in  the  campaign  against  the  renowned  Billy  Bowlegs 
and  his  wily  tribe,  enduring  such  privations  and  exposure  that  his  health  became 
seriously  impaired  ;  and  returning  in  the  autumn  of  1857,  he  resigned  his  com 
mission,  having  been  ten  years  in  the  United  States  army. 

Possessed  of  fine  literary  taste,  while  in  the  army  he  published  several  works, 
which  were  received  with  great  favor. 

In  1858,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  city,  and  practised  his  pro 
fession  there  with  distinguished  success  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion, 
when  he  was  among  the  very  first  to  respond  to  his  country's  call,  and  was  ap 
pointed  by  the  Governor  of  Michigan  Colonel  of  the  First  Michigan  volunteers. 


160  0.     B.    WILL  COX. 

Having,  "  during  the  interregnum,"  interested  himself  greatly  in  the  militia  of 
Michigan,  by  delivering  lectures  through  the  State  and  before  the  Legislature,  and 
by  perfecting  the  militia  laws,  he  became  so  favorably  and  extensively  known  as 
a  competent  and  thorough  officer,  that  upon  his  appointment,  the  regiment  was 
enlisted,  equipped,  and  drilled  in  an  incredibly  short  time,  and  hastened  to  the 
defence  of  the  Capitol,  being  the  first  regiment  that  arrived  at  the  theatre  of  war 
from  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  and,  until  then,  the  best  disciplined  and  equipped 
that  had  marched  into  Washington.  This  was  recognized  by  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  who  placed  him  in  the  van  of  the  first  advance,  and  Colonel  "Willcox,  in 
conjunction  with  the  lamented  Ellsworth,  took  possession  of  Alexandria,  the  first 
hostile  city  taken  in  the  rebellion,  of  which  he  was  appointed  the  first  Military 
Governor,  organized  its  government,  and  issued  his  proclamation,  which  was 
printed  by  the  men  of  his  command. 

Subsequently  he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  a  brigade,  consisting  of 
the  Michigan  First,  Ellsworth's  Fire  Zouaves,  the  Thirty-eighth  New-York,  and 
Arnold's  battery,  and  held  such  command  at  the  battle  of  Bull  Kun.  His  gal 
lantry  upon  that  field  was  conspicuous,  and  the  subject  of  praise  and  commenda 
tion  even  from  the  enemy.  Although  commandant  of  the  brigade,  he  led  four 
successive  charges,  in  the  last  of  which  he  received  a  frightful  wound  in  the  right 
arm  from  an  exploding  shell ;  his  horse  was  shot  under  him  and  fell,  and  he,  faint 
from  loss  of  blood,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  rebels,  together  with  two  of  his  cap 
tains — the  lamented  Butterworth,  wounded  and  since  dead,  and  Withington,  who, 
though  unhurt,  nobly  braved  the  perils  of  a  Southern  prison  rather  than  desert 
his  wounded  Colonel  —  and  seventy  of  his  men.  So  severe  was  the  wound  of 
Colonel  Willcox,  and  the  consequent  exhaustion,  that  he  could  not  be  removed 
from  the  field  until  several  days  after  the  battle,  when  he  was  taken  to  Eichmond, 
sharing  with  the  wounded  Captain  Bicketts  in  the  kind  care  of  his  heroic  wife. 
He  was  subsequently  removed  to  Castle  Pinckney,  thence  to  the  common  jail  in 
Charleston,  and  afterward  to  Columbia  and  Salisbury,  N".  C.,  as  one  of  the  host 
ages  for  the  privateers,  where  he  remained  until  the  general  exchange  of  prisoners, 
enduring  the  consequent  sufferings  and  privations,  as  expressed  by  one  of  his 
fellow-prisoners,  "  with  the  fortitude  of  a  brave  soldier  and  a  Christian  gentleman," 
and  was  released  from  prison  in  August,  1862,  after  a  confinement  of  thirteen 
months. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  Washington,  after  his  discharge,  he  was  welcomed  with 
the  utmost  enthusiasm,  and  as  a  recognition  of  the  bravery  and  efficiency  dis 
played  at  Bull  Bun,  as  well  as  the  fortitude  with  which  he  had  borne  the  priva 
tions  of  his  long  imprisonment,  the  President  immediately  promoted  him  to  be  a 
Brigadier-General,  with  commission  to  date  from  July  twenty-first,  1861,  and 
granted  to  him  a  furlough  of  twenty  days. 


0.     B.    WILLCOX.  161 

So  impressed  was  lie  with  the  importance  of  a  superior  force  to  meet  the 
large  armies  which  the«  rebels  were  everywhere  putting  into  the  field,  that  much 
of  the  time  of  his  furlough  was  devoted  to  inculcating  true  views  of  the  magni 
tude  of  the  rebellion,  the  necessity  of  large  armies,  and  the  encouragement  of  en 
listments,  and  his  stirring  appeals,  both  in  his  native  State  and  elsewhere,  con 
duced  largely  to  the  accomplishment  of  these  results.  After  a  brief  visit  to  De 
troit,  where  he  received  a  most  enthusiastic  public  reception,  General  Willcox,  ten 
days  before  the  expiration  of  his  furlough,  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac  at 
Leesboro,  September  ninth,  taking  command  of  the  Ninth  army  corps,  and  four 
days  after  participated  in  the  battle  of  South-Mountain,  his  division  leading  the 
charge  up  the  heights,  and  gaining  the  crest,  driving  the  enemy  off  his  own 
ground.  On  the  seventeenth,  at  Antietam,  General  Willcox  commanded  on  the 
right  of  the  attack  made  by  General  Burnside's  corps,  his  First  division  earned 
the  heights  to  the  town  of  Sharpsburgh.  Yielding  to  repeated  orders,  the  posi 
tion  gained  was  reluctantly  abandoned,  and  the  division  fell  back  near  the  bridge 
in  perfect  order.  In  this  action  he  had  one  horse  killed  and  another  disabled, 
everywhere  displaying  characteristic  coolness  and  courage. 

Early  in  October,  General  Burnside  having  been  assigned  a  larger  command, 
General  Willcox  took  command  of  the  Ninth  army  corps,  which  he  held  with 
much  credit,  no  man  in  the  army-  having  greater  power  to  elicit  the  esteem  and 
enthusiasm  of  his  men,  and  in  this  position  he  led  the  infantry  advance,  support 
ing  General  Pleasanton's  cavalry  in  the  march  down  the  Blue  Eidge  to  Warren- 
ton.  While  the  army  lay  there,  General  Willcox  commanded  the  outer  line  of 
defences,  and  after  General  Burnside  took  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
led  the  march,  and  was  the  first  to  reach  Falmouth. 

At  the  battle  of  Fredericksburgh,  December  eleventh,  1862,  the  Ninth  corps 
held  the  centre,  and  did  all  that  well-disciplined  troops  could  to  win  that  fatal 
day. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  January,  1863,  General  Willcox  was  relieved  of  the  com 
mand  of  the  Ninth  corps  by  Major-General  Sedgwick,  and  took  that  of  the  First 
division,  but  upon  the  corps  being  transferred  to  Kentucky,  it  again  fell  to  his 
command.  His  administration  of  the  District  of  Central  Kentucky,  headquarters 
at  Lexington,  gave  universal  satisfaction,  and  the  civil  disturbances  in  Indiana 
occurring  just  as  the  corps  was  starting  for  Vicksburgh,  he  was  ordered  by  Gene 
ral  Burnside  to  Indianapolis,  taking  command  of  the  military  department  of  the 
States  of  Indiana  and  Michigan.  His  tact  and  ability  soon  restored  quiet,  and 
during  the  Morgan  raid,  his  prompt  action  turned  the  course  of  that  daring  rebel 
from  the  State. 

Believed  from  that  department,  General  Willcox  again  joined  General  Burn- 
side,  September  sixtTi,  in  the  field,  near  Knoxville,  where  he  commanded  the  left 


162  0.    B.    WILLCOX. 

wing  of  the  army,  and  participated  in  fight  at  Blue  Springs,  October  tenth ;  and 
when  Knoxville  was  besieged,  accomplished  the  difficult  task  of  retiring  with  the 
entire  wagon-train  of  that  portion  of  the  army  to  Cumberland  Gap,  which  he  held, 
doing  efficient  service  in  sending  out  skirmishing  parties  to  attract  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  three  times  their  number,  keeping  open  communication,  and  getting 
supplies. 

Upon  Major-General  Foster's  assuming  command  in  Tennessee,  General  Will- 
cox  was  assigned  the  Second  division'  of  the  Ninth  army  corps,  which  he  now 
commands. 

In  the  autumn  of  1862,  General  Willcox  was  nominated  by  the  President  to 
be  Major-General,  but  the  nomination  was  not  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  on  the 
ground  that  the  number  allowed  by  law  had  already  been  filled.  It  is  now  again 
recommended  by  the  entire  Michigan  delegation  in  Congress,  as  a  recognition  due 
to  General  Willcox  for  his  faithful  and  meritorious  services  in  the  field. 


JEFFEBSOUT    DAYIS. 

AS  the  formal  and  responsible  head  of  the  rebellion,  although  not  especially 
prominent  in  bringing  it  about,  Jefferson  Davis  will  occupy  a  marked  posi 
tion  in  the  history  of  this  eventful  century.  He  was  born  June  third,  1808,  in  a 
part  of  Christian  County,  Kentucky,  which  now  forms  Todd  County.  Shortly 
after  his  birth,  his  father,  Samuel  Davis,  who  was  from  Georgia  and  had  served  in 
the  Eevolution  in  the  mounted  forces  of  that  State,  removed  with  his  family  to 
Mississippi,  and  settled  in  Wilkinson  County,  near  the  town  of  Woodville.  Here 
young  Davis  received  an  academical  education,  and  at  the  proper  age  was  sent  to 
Transylvania  College,  Lexington,  Kentucky,  which  he  left  in  1824  to  enter  the 
Military  Academy  at  West-Point,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1828,  being  the 
twenty-eighth  in  a  class  of  fifty-three. 

He  was  appointed  brevet  second  lieutenant,  and  remained  about  seven  years 
in  the  army,  during  which  time  he  served  as  an  infantry  and  staff-officer  on  the 
north-western  frontier  during  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1831-2.  From  this  he  was 
promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant  of  dragoons,  and  was  employed  in  that  capacity,  in 
1834,  in  operations  against  the  Pawnees,  Camanches,  and  other  Indian  tribes.  In 
June,  of  the  following  year,  he  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  Missis 
sippi,  betaking  himself  to  private  life  in  the  occupation  of  a  cotton-planter.  He 
continued  in  retirement  till  1843,  when  he  began  to  take  an  active  interest  in 
politics,  upon  the  Democratic  side,  and  in  1844  was  chosen  a  Presidential  elector 
upon  the  ticket  of  Polk  and  Dallas.  The  following  year,  he  was  nominated  for 
Congress  and  elected  in  November,  his  opponent,  Patrick  W.  Tompkins,  being 
also  a  Kentuckian  by  birth.  During  this  term  in  Congress  he  took  a  prominent 
part  in  discussions  upon  the  tariff,  the  Oregon  question,  and  particularly  in  the 
preparations  for  the  war  with  Mexico.  In  July,  1846,  while  occupying  his  seat 
in  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  First  regiment  of  Mississippi  volunteers,  en 
rolled  for  the  war,  organized  by  choosing  him  their  Colonel,  and  he  left  Washing 
ton  to  place  himself  at  their  head.  The  regiment  was  already  on  the  march  for 
the  Rio  Grande,  but  he  overtook  it  at  New-Orleans,  and  led  it  to  reenforce  Gene 
ral  Taylor,  his  father-in-law.  In  the  month  of  September  he  was  actively  engaged 
in  the  attack  and  storming  of  Monterey,  and  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for 
arranging  the  terms  of  capitulation.  At  Buena  Vista,  on  the  twenty-third  of  Feb 
ruary,  1847,  he  bore  a  distinguished  part.  His  regiment  being  attacked  by  a 


164  JEFFERSON      DAVIS. 

superior  force,  maintained  their  ground  for  a  long  time  unsupported,  and  Colonel 
Davis,  although  severely  wounded,  remained  in  his  saddle  until  the  close  of  the 
action,  and  was  complimented  for  gallantry  by  the  commander-in-chief  in  his  des 
patches  of  March  sixth.  At  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  enlistment,  in  July, 
1847,  the  regiment  returned  home ;  and  Davis,  who  accompanied  it,  was  met  at 
New-Orleans  by  a  commission  from  President  Polk  as  Brigadier-General  of  volun 
teers,  but  he  declined  this,  on  the  ground  that  by  the  Constitution  the  militia  ap 
pointments  are  reserved  to  the  States,  and  that  such  appointments  by  the  Presi 
dent  are  in  violation  of  State  rights.  In  the  following  month,  he  received  from 
the  Governor  of  Mississippi  the  appointment  of  United  States  Senator  to  fill  a 
vacancy  ;  and  at  the  next -session  of  the  Legislature,  January  eleventh,  1848,  he 
was  unanimously  reflected  for  the  remainder  of  the  term,  which  expired  March 
fourth,  1851.  In  1850,  he  was  reflected  for  a  full  term,  but  being  nominated  for 
Governor  by  the  Democratic  party  in  opposition  to  Henry  S.  Foote,  candidate  of 
the  Union  party,  he  resigned  his  seat,  but  was  beaten  by  a  majority  of  nine  hun 
dred  and  ninety-nine — a  proof  of  his  popularity,  for  in  the  "  Convention  election," 
two  months  previous,  his  party  was  in  a  minority  of  over  two  thousand.  Upon 
his  defeat,  he  returned  again  to  private  life,  in  which  he  remained  until  the  Presi 
dential  contest  of  1852,  when  he  took  the  stump  in  behalf  of  Pierce  and  King 
through  the  States  of  Mississippi,  Tennessee,  and  Louisiana,  and  was  rewarded  by 
the  appointment  of  Secretary  of  War.  In  1856,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Sen 
ate,  and  in  the  following  year  took  his  seat  for  the  term  ending  March  fourth, 
1863 — a  term  which  he  did  not  complete.  • 

In  the  Senate  he  took  from  the  first  a  position  among  the  prominent  Southern 
leaders,  being  among  the  keenest  and  most  sagacious  of  them  all.  In  the 
Thirtieth  Congress,  July  twenty-fourth,  1848,  he  voted  for  Clayton's  Compromise 
Bill,  which  established  territorial  governments  for  Oregon,  New-Mexico,  and  Cali 
fornia,  and  submitted  all  questions  relative  to  slavery  therein  to  the  decision  of 
the  Supreme  Court.  August  tenth,  the  same  subject  being  upon  consideration  in 
another  form,  he  voted  for  Mr.  Douglas's  amendment,  recognizing  the  Missouri 
Compromise  line  as  rightfully  extending  to  the  Pacific.  In  the  following  Con 
gress,  he  opposed  Mr.  Clay's  compromise  resolutions,  and  it  was  in  reply  to  some 
remarks  by  him  in  opposition,  January  twenty-ninth,  1850,  that  Mr.  Clay  made 
his  memorable  declaration  that  no  earthly  power  could  induce  him  "  to  vote  for 
a  specific  measure  for  the  introduction  of  slavery  where  it  had  not  before  existed, 
either  north  or  south  of"  the  Missouri  compromise  line,  of  which  line  Mr.  'Davis 
had  expressed  himself  thus :  "  I  here  assert  that  never  will  I  take  less  than  the  Mis 
souri  Compromise  line  extended  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  with  the  specific  recognition 
of  the  right  to  hold  slaves  in  the  territory  below  that  line  ;  and  that,  before  such 
territories  are  admitted  into  the  Union  as  States,  slaves  may  be  taken  there  from 
any  of  the  United  States,  at  the  option  of  the  owners."  July  twenty-third,  he 


JEFFERSON      DAVIS. 

moved  to  add  to  a  bill  enabling  California  to  form  a  State  Constitution  the  follow 
ing  :  "  And  that  all  laws  and  usages  existing  in  said  territory  at  the  date  of  its 
acquisition  by  the  United  States,  which  deny  or  obstruct  the  right  of  any  citizen 
of  the  United  States  to  remove  to,  and  reside  in,  said  territory,  with  any  species 
of  property  legally  held  in  any  of  the  States  of  the  Union,  be,  and  are  hereby  de 
clared  to  be,  null  and  void."  This  was  lost  by  twenty-two  to  thirty -three. 
Throughout  the  long  Kansas  struggle,  and  down  to  the  time  of  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war,  he  continued  upon  the  same  side  of  the  absorbing  questions  of  the  day 
without  being  specially  prominent.  As  Secretary  of  War,  he  proposed  or  carried 
out  a  revision  of  the  army  regulations  ;  introduced  the  manufacture  of  the  Minie 
ball ;  brought  camels  into  the  country  ;  and  earned  on  some  explorations  in  the 
western  part  of  the  continent. 

The  noticeable  portion  of  his  life,  however,  begun  soon  after  the  Presidential 
election  of  1860.     On  December  twentieth,  of  that  year,  he  asked  to  be  excused 
from  serving  on  Mr.  Powell's  committee  of  thirteen  to  whom  was  referred  so  much 
of  the  President's  Message  as  related  to  the  disturbed  condition  of  the  country, 
but  afterward  consented  to  serve.     On  the  twenty -first  of  January  he  took  part  in 
the  most  memorable  scene  of  the  winter.     In  company  with  the  Senators  from 
Alabama  and  Florida,  he  took  leave  of  the  Senate  with  a  speech,  in  which  he 
gave  his  opinion  that  by  the  secession  of  his  State  his  connection  with  that  body 
was  terminated,  and  reaffirmed  the  doctrine  of  the  right  of  secession,  which  he 
had  long  before  maintained.    The  confederate  Congress  at  Montgomery,  Alabama, 
chose  him  President  under  the  Provisional  Constitution  on  the  ninth  of  February, 
the  day  after  its  adoption,  and  on  the  sixteenth  of  the  month  he  arrived  at  Mont 
gomery  and  accepted  the  office  in  a  brief  address,  prophesying  peace,  but  threat 
ening  that  the  enemies  of  the  South  would  be  made  to  "  smell  Southern  powder 
and  feel  Southern  steel."     On  the  second  day  following,  he  was  inaugurated,  de 
livering  a  brief  inaugural  of  a  general  nature.     On  the  seventeenth  of  April,  two 
days  after  the  first  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln,  Davis  responded  by  a  pro 
clamation  authorizing  privateering,  and  followed  up  this  line  of  action  by  ad 
dressing  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  on  the  sixth  of  July,  a  letter  relative  to  the  prisoners 
taken  on  the  privateer  Savannah,  proposing  an  exchange  and  threatening  retalia 
tion.    Still  deprecating  the  idea  of  war,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  May  he  wrote  to  the 
Maryland  Commissioners,  who  had  been  appointed  to  urge  the  cessation  of  hostili 
ties  in  order  to  negotiate,  asserting  his  desire  for  peace,  and  his  conviction  of  the 
right  of  each  State  to  assume  its  own  control.     August  fourteenth,  he  issued  a 
proclamation,  warning  all  persons  of  fourteen  years  and  upward,  owning  allegi 
ance  to  the  United  States,  to  leave  the  Confederacy  within  forty  days  or  be  treat 
ed  as  alien  enemies.     On  the  sixth  of  November,  he  was  chosen  permanent  Presi 
dent  without  opposition,  and  assumed  office  under  this  election  on  the  twenty- 
second  of  February,  1862.     February  twenty-eighth,  he  vetoed  a  bill  prohibiting 


166  JEFFERSON      DAVIS. 

the  slave-trade,  on  the  ground  of  the  inconsistency  of  a  certain  proviso  with  the 
Constitution.  On  the  twenty-first  of  May,  he  renewed  the  repudiation  scheme  of 
Mississippi  upon  a  large  scale,  by  approving  an  act  providing  that  all  persons  ow 
ing  debts  to  parties  in  the  North  should  pay  the  same  into  the  confederate  Treasu 
ry.  Shortly  after  his  inauguration,  he  gave  the  first  hint  toward  conscription,  in 
a  special  message,  suggesting  "  some  simple  and  general  system  for  exercising  the 
power  for  raising  armies,"  and  recommending  a  law  declaring  that  all  persons  be 
tween  eighteen  and  thirty -five  years,  rightfully  subject  to  military  duty,  be  held 
to  be  in  the  service  of  the  confederate  States.  December  twenty-third,  1862,  he 
issued  a  proclamation  on  account  of  the  hanging  of  the  rebel  Mumford,  at  New- 
Orleans,  by  General  Butler,  for  having  torn  down  the  United  States  flag,  in  which 
he  pronounced  Butler  an  outlaw,  who  should  be  immediately  hanged  upon  cap 
ture,  and  that,  until  he  had  been  punished  for  his  crimes,  no  commissioned  officer 
taken  captive  should  be  released  on  parole.  He  further  ordered  that  all  commis 
sioned  officers  serving  under  Butler  be  held  as  outlaws,  and  reserved  for  execution 
when  captured,  and  that  all  negroes  taken  in  arms  be  delivered  to  the  authorities 
of  their  respective  States. 

The  influence  and  position  of  Mr.  Davis  as  President  of  the  Southern  Con 
federacy  are  not  to  be  traced  chiefly  in  his  messages  and  proclamations,  which 
have  been  numerous.  These  have  been  characterized  by  a  certain  specious  abili 
ty,  especially  remarkable  in  his  first  messages,  which  were  obviously  planned  for 
effect  abroad.  His  message  on  the  seizure  of  Slidell  and  Mason,  dated  November 
eighteenth,  1861,  and  his  public  addresses  during  the  first  year  of  the  war  were 
careful  attempts  at  securing  the  foreign  aid  which  was  at  first  the  principal  hope 
of  the  rebellion.  But  his  later  messages  are  more  bitter  and  desponding  in  tone. 
The  direction  of  the  military  operations  on  the  part  of  the  rebels  have  been  his  in 
general  plan,  and  in  his  message  of  February  twenty-fifth,  1862,  he  confesses, 
after  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson,  that  "  events  have  demonstrated  that  the  govern 
ment  had  attempted  more  than  it  had  power  to  achieve  ;"  in  other  words,  that  his 
own  plan  of  defending  the  whole  rebel  domain  was  a  failure. 

His  health  has  been  feeble,  and  he  has  nearly  or  quite  lost  the  use  of  one 
eye  ;  but  he  has  succeeded  in  holding  the  reins  with  a  strong  hand.  The  policy 
of  the  Confederacy  has  been  his  policy,  and  its  men  also  his  men.  And,  as  his 
opponents  in  the  Eichmond  Congress  openly  charge,  he  has  retained  his  personal 
favorites  in  service  long  after  they  had  ignominiously  failed,  and  has  never  visited 
the  army  but  disaster  has  followed  him.  The  task,  however,  has  been  gigantic 
on  both  sides  of  the  line,  and  for  a  man  who  should  combine  the  traits  of  shrewd 
ness,  plausibility,  foresight,  and  self-will,  with  some  military  experience  and  pres 
tige,,  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  the  rebels  could  have  chosen  better,  even  if  they  did 
not  choose  well 


GEORGE  GORDON  MEADE. 

ONE  battle  only  fought  in  the  North  has  yet  taken  place  to  verify  the  rebel 
boast  that  the  war  would  be  on  Northern  soil.  It  does  not  seem  possible 
that  there  should  be  another,  but  there  has  been  one,  as  if  to  mark  the  rule  by 
the  notable  exception,  and  the  leader  of  the  oft  unfortxinate  army  which  won  it 
was  sharply  called  to  severe  trial.  Gettysburgh  will  be  prominent  in  the  roll  of 
battle-fields,  and  with  it  will  be  named  GEORGE  GORDON  MEADE.  He  was  born 
December  thirty-first,  1815,  at  Cadiz,  Spain,  where  his  parents  were  temporarily 
residing.  His  father  was  a  merchant  of  Philadelphia,  Pa,,  and  for  several  years 
after  1800  had  held  the  position  of  consul  and  navy  agent  at  Cadiz.  Partly 
through  his  exertions  and  influence  the  territory  of  Florida  was  acquired  from  the 
Spanish  government,  by  whom  he  was  held  in  high  regard. 

While  yet  an  infant,  young  Meade  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Philadel 
phia  on  their  return,  and  at  an  early  age  was  sent  to  the  boys'  school  at  Georgetown, 
D.  C.,  at  that  time  kept  by  Mr.  Chase,  now  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  From  this 
school  he  was  transferred  to  a  military  academy  at  Mount  Airy,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Philadelphia,  and  in  September  of  1831  entered  the  Military  Academy  at  West- 
Point  Graduating  in  the  summer  of  1835,  he  entered  the  army  as  brevet  second 
lieutenant  of  the  Third  artillery,  and  was  ordered  to  Florida,  being  saved,  by  an 
attack  of  illness,  from  being  exposed  to  the  "Dale  massacre,"  which  occurred  in 
that  campaign.  On  the  last  day  of  the  year,  he  became  a  full  second  lieutenant, 
but  in  October  following  resigned  his  position  and  retired  from  the  service,  be 
coming  a  civil  engineer,  in  which  capacity  he  was  employed  on  various  surveys, 
public  and  private.  Of  these  the  principal  one  was  the  survey  of  the  north-east 
ern  boundary  line,  then  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  James  D.  Graham,  of  the 
Topographical  Engineers.  May  nineteenth,  1842,  he  was  reappointed  to  the 
army,  with  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant  of  the  topographical  engineers.  Shortly 
afterward  he  was  ordered  to  Mexico,  and  took  part  in  the  war,  being  at  different 
times  a  member  of  the  staff  of  Generals  Taylor,  Worth,  and  Patterson,  and  partici 
pating  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Eesaca  de  la  Palma,  Saltillo,  and  Monterey, 
being  brevetted  first  lieutenant  for  gallantry  during  the  siege  of  the  latter  place. 
At  Vera  Cruz,  as  topographical  engineer  on  the  staff  of  General  Patterson,  he 
made  several  important  reconnoissances,  and  selected  the  site  for  the  naval  battery. 


168  GEORGE     GORDON      MEADE. 

At  the  termination  of  the  siege  he  returned  to  the  United  States,  and  was  soon 
after  presented  with  a  sword  by  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia.  After  peace  was 
concluded,  he  employed  himself  in  river  and  harbor  improvements,  and  in  con 
structing  lighthouses  on  Delaware  Bay,  but  hostilities  being  renewed  in  Florida, 
he  returned  to  the  field  in  that  State,  under  command  of  General  Taylor.  A  fort 
on  the  western  coast  of  the  State  still  bears  his  name,  given  it  by  General  Twiggs, 
who  built  it  about  this  time  in  accordance  with  his  advice. 

The  brief  war  over,  he  resumed  his  superintendence  of  lighthouse  construction 
in  Delaware  Bay  and  off  the  coast  of  Florida.  He  became  first  lieutenant  in  the 
summer  of  1851,  and  a  captain  May  nineteenth,  1856,  and  in  the  latter  year  he 
was  ordered  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  to  aid  the  National  survey  of  the  lakes.  On 
the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  was  still  at  Detroit,  but  was  directed  to  report 
at  "Washington,  and  on  August  thirty-first,  1861,  he  received  an  appointment  as 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers,  and  had  for  his  command  the  Second  brigade  of 
the  Pennsylvania  reserve  corps,  which  had  been  raised  and  placed  under  the  di 
rection  of  General  McCall.  He  assumed  his  command  on  the  thirteenth  of  Sep 
tember,  near  Georgetown,  D.  C.,  and  remained  during  the  following  winter  at  that 
locality,  improving  the  time  in  drill.  In  the  spring  of  1862,  the  army  of  the  Po 
tomac  advancing  to  Manassas,  the  reserves  went  as  one  of  the  three  divisions  of 
the  First  corps,  then  under  General  McDowell,  and  remained  with  him  until  they 
joined  McClellan  on  the  Peninsula,  after  the  battle  of  Hanover  Court-House. 
There  they  were  placed  in  the  Fifth  corps,  on  the  right  wing,  but  the  actual  serv 
ice  of  the  Second  brigade  at  that  period  was  confined  to  reconnoissances,  some  of 
them  important. 

June  nineteenth,  1862,  General  Meade  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major  in 
the  regular  army.  Seven  days  later,  June  twenty-sixth,  the  long  battle  known  as 
the  "  seven  days'  fight "  began  with  the  engagement  at  Mechanicsville.  During 
this  day,  Meade's  brigade  was  held  in  reserve  within  supporting  distance,  and 
though  the  first  brigade  was  withdrawn  when  the  division  fell  back  to  Gaines's 
Mill,  the  Second  fought  well  and  retired  in  excellent  order,  winning  the  thanks  of 
the  officer  in  command.  On  the  following  day,  the  whole  of  the  reserves  were  en 
gaged  and  held  their  ground  at  great  odds  for  three  hours,  and  for  his  conduct  in 
rallying  and  directing  them  during  the  battle,  General  Meade  was  again  thanked 
by  General  McCall,  and  was  nominated  for  the  brevet  of  lieutenant-colonel. 

On  the  twenty -ninth  of  June,  the  reserves,  having  crossed  the  Chickahominy, 
were  posted  at  New-Market  Cross-Roads,  to  repel  any  attack  from  Richmond.  On 
the  following  morning  they  were  halted  at  the  junction  of  the  New-Market  and  Tur 
key  Bridge  roads,  Meade's  brigade  being  on  the  right,  and  the  afternoon  brought 
on  a  fierce  engagement,  in  which  the  reserves  inflicted  heavy  losses  on  the  rebels, 
and  finally  broke  their  lines  by  determined  bayonet  charges,  having  held  them  at 


GEORGE      GORDON      MEADE.  169 

bay  and  prevented  them  from  precipitating  themselves  upon  the  exposed  column 
of  McClellan.  General  Meade,  in  a  letter  to  McClellan,  said  that  "  it  was  only  the 
stubborn  resistance  offered  by  our  division,  prolonging  the  contest  till  after  dark, 
and  checking  till  that  time  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  that  enabled  the  concentra 
tion  during  the  night  of  the  whole  army  on  James  Eiver,  which  saved  it."  Dur 
ing  the  fight,  General  Meade  was  severely,  and  as  it  seemed  for  a  time  mortally, 
wounded,  one  ball  striking  his  arm,  and  another  entering  near  the  hip-bone  and 
passing  around  the  body.  He  returned  to  Philadelphia,  but  his  strong  constitu 
tion  recovered  in  six  weeks  sufficiently  to  permit  his  return. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  August,  he  rejoined  the  army  at  Harrison's  Landing, 
and  shortly  after,  when  the  army  left  the  Peninsula  and  joined  General  Pope,  the 
Pennsylvania  reserves  accompanied  it.  Beaching  Fredericksburgh,  the  division 
was  ordered,  on  the  twenty-first  of  August,  to  join  the  army  of  Virginia,  then 
marching  from  Rappahannock  Station  to  Warrenton,  and  on  its  arrival  was  as 
signed  for  the  present  to  McDowell's  corps.  From  the  twenty-eighth  to  the  thirti 
eth,  General  Meade  was  actively  engaged  in  the  retreat  which  closed  the  Pope 
campaign,  in  which  the  division  sustained  a  loss  of  six  hundred  and  fifty-three. 
General  Reynolds,  who  then  commanded  the  reserves,  writes  officially,  "  General 
Meade,  as  heretofore,  conducted  his  brigade  in  the  most  skilful  manner  through 
out  the  entire  marches  and  actions  ;"  and  General  Pope  also  says  :  "  The  Pennsyl 
vania  reserves,  under  Reynolds,  rendered  most  gallant  and  efficient  service  in  all 
the  operations  which  occurred  after  he  had  reported  to  me.  General  Meade 
performed  his  duty  with  ability  and  gallantry,  and  in  all  fidelity  to  the  Govern 
ment  and  the  army." 

In  September  early,  General  Meade's  command  marched  toward  the  section 
of  Maryland  into  which  the  rebel  General  Lee  wras  fast  advancing,  and  at  South- 
Mountain  the  division  displayed  their  old  bravery  as  a  part  of  General  Hooker's 
corps.  On  the  night  of  the  day  on  which  this  battle  took  place,  General  Meade's 
troops  were  again  hotly  engaged  at  Antietam  Creek  for  four  hours,  at  the  end 
of  which  they  pursued  the  flying  rebels  for  three  miles.  At  dawn  of  the  seven 
teenth,  the  famous  battle  of  Antietam  began  in  skirmishes  by  the  front  of  the  Penn 
sylvania  reserves,  and  throughout  the  day  they  were  in  the  hottest  and  bravest  of 
the  fight,  led  and  encouraged  by  General  Meade,  who  had  two  horses  killed  under 
him.  General  Hooker  having  been  wounded,  General  Meade  took  temporary 
command  of  his  corps,  retaining  this  position  until  the  return  of  General  Reynolds 
from  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  latter  part  of  October,  1862,  the  army  recrossed  the  Potomac.  Gene 
ral  Meade  accompanied  it,  and  on  the  twenty -ninth  of  November  received  the  ap 
pointment  of  Major-General  of  volunteers,  having  been  earnestly  recommended 
for  this  position  by  General  Hooker.  In  the  battle  of  Fredericksburgh,  in  Decem- 


170  GEORGE      GORDON      MEADE. 

ber,  he  was  a  participant  with  the  reserves,  and  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  that  month 
he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Fifth  army  corps,  and  accordingly  took 
leave  of  his  old  division.  For  a  little  time  he  commanded  the  centre  grand  divi 
sion  of  the  army  ;  and  when  General  Burnside  was  succeeded  by  General  Hooker 
as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Potomac  army,  toward  the  close  of  January,  1863, 
General  Meade  retained  command  of  the  Fifth  corps,  and  when  the  army  com 
menced  the  movement  on  Fredericksburgh,  that  corps  went  as  a  part  of  the  right 
wing,  marching  a  distance  of  fifty  miles  in  less  than  three  days,  including  all  halts 
and  rests,  one  of  which  was  for  ten  hours.  Two  large  rivers  had  to  be  crossed  in 
a  pouring  rain,  and  the  corps  forded  the  Eapidan  with  its  artillery,  the  men  being 
waist  deep.  The  battle  of  Chancellorsville  opened  on  the  second  of  May,  and 
when  it  ended  in  defeat  on  the  third  day  after,  and  the  Rappahannock  was  re- 
crossed  and  made  good  its  title  of  "  River  of  Death,"  the  Fifth  corps,  after  fighting 
throughout,  covered  the  retreat  and  guarded  the  crossing  till  the  army  was 
safely  over. 

Soon  after  came  the  unexpected  and  sudden  call  to  the  highest  position  which 
no  general  had  yet  successfully  filled.  In  June,  Lee  made  good,  for  the  first  time 
in  reality,  the  rebel  threat  of  a  Northern  invasion,  moving  into  Maryland,  then 
across  the  State,  and  finally  entering  and  ravaging  the  border  counties  of  Pennsyl 
vania,  multiplying  and  spreading  his  power  by  the  terror  he  excited.  Early  on 
Sunday,  the  twenty-eighth,  General  Meade  being  then  at  Frederick,  Maryland,  he 
was  wakened  by  the  messenger  from  General  Halleck,  who  brought  the  intelli 
gence  that  he  had  been  designated  as  the  successor  of  General  Hooker  in  the  first 
command.  The  circumstances  under  which  this  appointment  was  given,  and 
withal  the  perfect  correspondence  of  the  words  in  which-  he  announced  it  to  the 
army  with  the  character  of  the  man  and  with  his  previous  announcements  on  vari 
ous  occasions,  make  it  fitting  to  insert  his  words  here  : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  POTOMAC,  June  28,  1863. 

"  By  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  I  do  hereby  assume 
command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  As  a  soldier,  in  obeying  this  order,  an 
order  totally  unexpected  and  unsolicited,  I  have  no  promises  or  pledges  to  make. 
The  country  looks  to  this  army  to  deliver  it  from  the  devastation  and  disgrace  of 
a  hostile  invasion.  Whatever  fatigues  and  sacrifices  we  may  be  called  upon  to 
undergo,  let  us  have  in  view  constantly  the  magnitude  of  the  interests  involved, 
and  let  each  man  determine  to  do  his  duty,  leaving  to  an  all-controlling  Providence 
the  decision  of  the  contest.  It  is  with  just  diffidence  that  I  relieve  in  the  com 
mand  of  this  army  an  eminent  and  accomplished  soldier,  whose  name  must  ever 
appear  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  its  achievements  ;  but  I  rely  upon  the  hearty 


GEORGE      GORDON     MEADE.  171 

support  of  my  companions  in  arms  to  assist  me  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
the  important  trust  which  has  been  confided  to  me. 

"  GEOEGE  Gr.  MEADE,  Major-General  Commanding." 

The  power  of  the  new  commander  was  not  to  remain  long  untested.  On  the 
thirtieth,  he  issued  to  the  army  a  brief  and  spirited  order,  requesting  all  command 
ing  officers  to  address  their  men  in  explanation  of  the  immense  issues  involved  in 
the  coming  struggle,  soon  expected,  and  closed  with  these  words :  "  Corps  and 
other  commanders  are  authorized  to  order  the  instant  death  of  any  soldier  who 
fails  to  do  his  duty  at  this  hour." 

At  the  time  when  he  was  placed  in  command,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  June, 
the  rebel  army  under  Lee,  estimated  at  one  hundred  thousand  strong,  had  crossed 
the  Potomac  and  advanced  up  the  Cumberland  Valley.  Ewell's  corps  was  on  the 
Susquehanna ;  Longstreet's  at  Chambersburgh  ;  Hill's  between  that  place  and 
Cashtown.  "  The  twenty-eighth  of  June  was  spent  in  ascertaining  the  positions 
and  strength  of  the  different  corps  of  the  army,  but  principally  in  bringing  up  the 
cavalry,  which  had  been  covering  the  rear  of  the  army  in  its  passage  over  the 
Potomac,  and  to  which  a  large  increase  had  just  been  made  from  the  force  previ 
ously  attached  to  the  defences  of  Washington.  Orders  were  given  on  this  day  to 
Major-General  French,  commanding  at  Harper's  Ferry,  to  move  with  seven  thou 
sand  men  to  occupy  Frederick  and  the  line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
with  the  balance  of  his  force,  estimated  at  four  thousand,  to  remove  and  escort 
public  property  to  Washington."  On  the  twenty -ninth,  the  army  was  put  in  mo 
tion,  and  on  the  evening  of  that  day  it  was  in  position,  the  left  at  Emmitsburgh, 
and  the  right  at  New-Windsor.  On  the  thirtieth,  the  right  flank  was  moved  up 
to  Manchester,  the  left  being  still  at  Emmitsburgh,  and  the  enemy  being  reported 
approaching  from  Cashtown,  General  Reynolds  was  directed  to  occupy  Gettys- 
burgh  with  three  corps.  Reaching  that  place  on  the  first  of  July,  General  Rey 
nolds  found  Buford's  cavalry  already  engaged,  and  accordingly  moved  around  the 
town  and  attacked  with  his  force,  and  the  battle  fairly  begun.  The  first  afternoon, 
the  arrival  of  reenforcements  and  the  junction  of  Ewell's  corps  enabled  the  rebels 
to  outflank  our  line  and  force  it  to  withdraw  with  a  considerable  loss  in  prisoners. 
Early  on  the  following  morning,  General  Meade  arrived  on  the  field  in  person, 
several  corps  also  arriving  during  the  day,  which  was  spent  in  repulsing  the  as 
saults  of  the  rebels.  On  the  third,  the  contest  was  renewed,  ending  with  a  final 
assault  upon  our  left  and  centre,  upon  the  failure  of  which  the  rebels  retired  to 
their  lines,  and  the  battle  was  over.  The  morning  of  the  fifth  saw  the  enemy  in 
fall  retreat,  their  loss  having  been  three  guns,  forty-one  standards,  thirteen  thou 
sand  and  twenty-six  prisoners,  and  twenty -four  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seven 
ty-eight  small  arms.  The  loss  on  the  opposite  side  was  two  thousand  eight  hun- 


172  GEORGE      GORDON     MEADE. 

dred  and  ninety-four  killed,  thirteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  nine  wounded, 
and  six  thousand  six  hundred  and  forty-three  missing  —  twenty-three  thousand 
one  hundred  and  eighty-six  in  all.  The  intelligence  of  the  victory  was  sent  over 
the  Northern  States  on  the  fourth,  together  with  that  of  the  surrender  of  Yicks- 
burgh  to  General  Grant,  breaking  the  long  and  horrible '  suspense  by  a  thrill 

of  Joy- 
Pursuit  of  the  retreating  rebels  was  made  on  the  seventh,  and  on  the  twelfth 
they  were  overtaken  when  in  front  of  Williamsport.  On  the  fourteenth,  our 
cavalry  advanced  on  Williamsport,  but  Lee  had  crossed  the  Potomac  during  the 
previous  night  by  a  ford  at  Williamsport  and  a  bridge  at  Falling  Waters.  Pur 
suit  was  then  given  up,  and  the  army  shortly  recrossed  into  Virginia  and  resumed 
its  former  position  on  the  Rappahannock.  A  fight  at  Bristow,  on  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  Railroad,  on  the  fourteenth  of  October ;  two  engagements  on  the  Rap 
pahannock  on  the  seventh  of  November ;  Locust  Grove  on  the  twenty -seventh, 
and  Mine  Run  on  the  thirtieth  of  November,  terminated  the  work  of  that  year. 
February  twenty-ninth,  1864,  General  Meade  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  as 
Brigadier-General  in  the  regular  army,  his  commission  bearing  date  July  thirti 
eth,  1863. 

Gettysburg!!  will  always  be  deemed  among  the  memorable  battles  of  the 
war.  It  was  the  first  fought  upon  Northern  soil,  and  ended  an  increasing  panic 
and  paralysis  of  several  weeks  ;  and  after  the  danger  was  fully  over,  it  was  clearly 
seen  how  narrowly  the  country  had  passed  its  crisis.  The  nation  breathed  freely, 
and  then  realized  how  nearly  it  had  been  lost,  for  Gettysburgh  lost  would  have 
been  the  loss  of  Washington  and  New- York,  and  the  failure  of  the  Union  cause, 
since  nothing  stood  before  Lee  but  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  For  the  courage 
and  the  faith  which  resisted  the  demoralization  almost  necessarily  succeeding  so 
long  a  succession  of  failures  and  so  many  changes  of  commanders ;  for  the  faith 
and  spirit  which  secured  a  victory  to  an  untried  leader  in  the  first  week  of  his 
leadership ;  for  the  discernment  to  see,  and  the  heart  to  fight  for,  the  issues  in 
volved  in  that  one  trial,  the  nation  owes  the  army  of  the  Potomac  a  debt  which  it 
has  hardly  begun  to  pay,  perhaps  not  yet  to  understand.  Honor  is  thus  due  to 
the  army,  but  to  the  leader  as  well.  Under  an  inferior  commander  the  vigor  of 
the  army  would  have  been  lost,  and  though  General  Meade  must  divide  the  honor 
of  Gettysburgh  with  his  soldiers,  (as  he  would  wish  to  do,)  he  cannot  escape  his 
share. 


I 


G.     T.     BEAUEEGAED. 

THE  rebel  General  Gustave  Toutant  Beauregard,  as  lie  signs  himself,  al 
though,  ordinary  mention  has  prefixed  the  additional  name  of  Pierre,  was 
born  in  the  parish,  or  county,  of  St.  Bernard,  Louisiana,  near  New-Orleans,  May 
twenty-eighth,  1818.  His  father,  James  T.  Beauregard,  was  of  French  extraction, 
and  was  an  influential  citizen  in  the  parish  where  he  resided.  Beauregard's 
mother  was  descended  from  an  old  family  of  Louisiana,  whose  ancestors  were  of 
Italian  origin,  as  indicated  by  their  family  name  of  Reggio.  At  the  age  of  twelve, 
young  Gustave  entered  the  school  of  the  Messieurs  Jurget  in  New- York,  and  at 
sixteen  received  an  appointment  to  the  Military  Academy  at  West-Point,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1839,  holding  the  second  position  in  his  class.  He  served 
with  some  distinction  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  upon  the  authority  of  J.  F.  H. 
Claiborne,  was  publicly  complimented  in  the  city  of  Mexico  by  General  Scott. 
In  Claiborne's  biography  of  General  John  A.  Quitman  occurs  the  following  note 
with  Quitman's  indorsement : 

"  A  fortnight  after,  while  our  army  was  within  the  city,  when  General  Scott 
was  riding  with  General  Twiggs  and  Smith  on  the  San  Cosine  road,  meeting  Lieu 
tenant  Beauregard  with  Colonel  Hitchcock  and  Mr.  Trist,  he  said  in  a  tone  of 
feigned  severity :  '  Young  man,  I  wish  to  reprimand  you,  and  I  wish  the  whole 
army  was  present,  but  these  Generals  represent  it.  Why  did  you  advise  me  to 
attack  by  the  west  gate  ?  You  now  see  the  consequences !  We  have  taken  this 
great  city  and  the  halls  of  Montezuma  after  a  few  hours'  hard  fighting,  and  with 
only  a  loss  of  eight  hundred  men.  Be  careful  in  future,  sir,  of  such  bad  advice 
to  your  seniors.'  " 

On  his  return  from  Mexico  in  1848,  he  received  a  sword  from  the  planters  of 
Plaquemine  and  St.  Bernard,  which  he  wore,  thirteen  years  after,  at  his  disgrace 
ful  success  in  bombarding  seventy  starved  men  in  Fort  Sumter.  In  1853,  Presi 
dent  Franklin  Pierce,  who  was  his  friend  and  had  been  associated  with  him  during 
the  former's  brief  experience  in  the  Mexican  war,  gave  him  the  appointment  of 
the  superintendence  over  the  construction  of  the  custom-house  at  New-Orleans' 
For  this  work,  says  his  Southern  biographer,  he  was  so  admirably  adapted  that, 
although  millions  of  dollars  passed  through  his  hands  during  the  many  years  he 
was  employed  by  the  Government  on  the  different  forts,  at  the  settlement  of  his 
accounts  with  the  sub-treasury,  in  1861,  the  United  States  owed  him  one  cent. 


G.   T.   BEAUREGARD. 

In  1860,  while  lie  was  brevet-colonel  of  United  States  engineers,  President 
Buchanan  gave  him  the  appointment  of  Superintendent  of  the  Military  Academy 
at  West-Point,  but  his  views  of  allegiance  to  the  South  compelled  him  to  decline, 
and  upon  the  secession  of  Louisiana,  he  resigned  his  position  in  the  army  and  re 
turned  to  New-Orleans,  enlisting  there  as  a  private  in  the  Second  company  of  the 
New-Orleans  Guards.  In  1860,  he  married,  as  his  second  wife,  Miss  Caroline  Des 
Chondes,  becoming  thereby  brother-in-law  of  John  Slidell. 

February  twenty-sixth,  1861,  he  was  appointed  brigadier-general  in  the  rebel 
army,  and  on  the  fifth  of  March  was  ordered  by  Jefferson  Davis  to  take  command 
of  the  forces  at  Charleston.  He  employed  his  engineering  skill  and  his  West- 
Point  instruction  in  surrounding  Fort  Sumter  with  the  batteries,  on  the  construc 
tion  of  which  the  little  peaceful  garrison  looked  without  offering  hindrance  or  re 
monstrance,  and  when  all  were  completed,  and  the  Star  of  the  West  had  been 
fired  upon  and  driven  off,  the  correspondence  relative  to  the  Fort  began  between 
Beauregard  and  the  rebel  authorities  at  Montgomery,  Alabama.  April  seventh, 
he  issued  an  order,  and  sent  a  special  messenger  to  Major  Anderson,  that  no  fur 
ther  intercourse  between  the  Fort  and  the  city  would  be  permitted.  Further 
notes  passed  between  him  and  Montgomery  until  the  twelfth,  when,  by  direction 
from  the  rebel  War  Secretary,  L.  P.  Walker,  Beauregard  demanded  of  Major  An 
derson  that  he  state  the  time  at  which,  as  indicated  by  himself  in  a  previous  note, 
he  would  evacuate,  and  that  he  would  not  use  his  guns  against  the  rebels,  and  in 
case  this  demand  were  refused,  Beauregard  was  ordered  to  open  fire.  On  the 
morning  of  the  twelfth,  he  telegraphed  that  the  demand  had  been  refused,  and  ac 
cordingly  he  opened  fire  at  half-past  four  A.M.  The  reply  of  Major  Anderson, . 
however,  was  to  the  effect  that  he  would  evacuate  at  noon  of  the  fifteenth,  if  not 
previously  supplied  or  otherwise  ordered,  and  that,  meanwhile,  he  would  not  use 
his  guns  unless  compelled.  Seventeen  mortars  and  thirty  large  guns,  mostly 
columbiads,  opened  fire,  but  the  garrison  of  the  Fort,  to  avert  any  possibility  that 
the  historian  or  the  world  should  be  in  doubt  as  to  which  side  began  the  fire, 
quietly  breakfasted  as  usual.  They  were  then  divided  into  three  reliefs,  each  of 
which  was  to  work  the  guns  four  hours,  and  the  Fort  opened  fire  at  seven  A.M". 
During  the  day  fires  broke  out  three  times  in  the  Fort,  and  the  bombardment  con 
tinued  on  the  part  of  the  rebels  throughout  the  night.  The  next  day,  the  officers' 
quarters  took  fire,  and  the  object  of  making  resistance  being  attained,  the  flag  was 
lowered  and  the  Fort  surrendered  about  one  in  the  afternoon.  On  the  fourteenth 
of  April,  Beauregard  issued  an  order,  in  which  he  congratulated  the  troops  under 
his  command  "on  the  brilliant  success  which  has  crowned  their  gallantry  by 
the  reduction  of  the  stronghold  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,"  after  a  bombardment 
of  thirty-three  hours. 

About  the  twenty-eighth  of  May,  he  retired  from  the  command  at  Charles- 


G.     T.     BEAUREGARD.  175 

ton,  and  on  the  first  of  June  received  the  fruits  of  his  success  by  assuming  the 
command  of  the  rebel  army  at  Manassas  Junction.  At  that  time  he  issued  hi?- 
notorious  "  Beauty  and  Booty  "  proclamation,  which  was  entitled  "  A  Proclama 
tion  to  the  People  of  the  Counties  of  Loudon,  Fairfax,  and  Prince  William,"  an£. 
began  thus  :  "A  reckless  and  unprincipled  tyrant  has  invaded  your  soil.  Abra 
ham  Lincoln,  regardless  of  all  moral,  legislative,  and  constitutional  restriction,  has 
thrown  his  abominable  hordes  among  you,  who  are  murdering  and  imprisoning 
your  citizens,  confiscating  and  destroying  your  property,  and  committing  other 
acts  of  insolence  and  outrage  too  shocking  and  revolting  to  humanity  to  be 
enumerated.  All  rules  of  civilized  warfare  are  abandoned,  and  they  proclaim  by 
their  acts,  if  not  on  their  banners,  that  their  war-cry  is  Beauty  and  Booty.  All 
that  is  dear  to  man— your  honor  and  that  of  your  wives  and  daughters,  your  for 
tunes  and  your  lives — are  involved  in  this  momentous  contest." 

A  letter  from  Jefferson  Davis  to  him,  dated  at  Manassas,  July  twenty-first, 
confers  on  him  the  rank  of  General.  A  bulletin  of  the  twenty-eighth,  signed  by 
Beauregard,  with  Joe  Johnston,  is  somewhat  inflated  and  bombastic  in  its  tone. 
His  report  of  the  battle  of  Bull  Kun  in  full  was  not  made  public  at  the  time,  al 
though  a  synopsis  of  it  appeared  in  the  Richmond  journals.  He  states  that  for 
some  days  previous  he  urged  in  vain  that  permission  be  granted  him  to  order  the 
junction  of  Johnston's  forces  with  his  own,  which  junction  finally  carried  the  day 
and  caused  the  rout  of  the  National  forces.  He  remarks  that  the  retirement  of 
the  rebels  from  Fairfax  immediately  previous  to  the  engagement  on  the  eight 
eenth  is  the  first  instance  recorded  of  volunteers  retiring  before  an  engagement, 
with  a  view  of  giving  battle  in  another  position.  The  forces  under  his  command 
he  sets  down  at  eighteen  thousand  on  the  eighteenth  of  July,  increased  on  the 
twenty-first  to  twenty-seven  thousand.  The  killed  on  the  rebel  side  he  states  at 
three  hundred  and  ninety-three,  and  the  wounded  at  one  thousand  two  hundred. 
His  excuse  afterward  rendered  to  the  rebel  Congress  for  the  evacuation  of  Manas 
sas  in  March,  1862,  was  that  he  lacked,  and  had  been  for  a  long  time  unavailingly 
trying  to  obtain  supplies  and  men. 

On  the  fifth  of  March,  1862,  he  assumed  command  of  the  Mississippi  army, 
associated  with  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  Bragg,  Polk,  Pillow,  Cheatham,  and 
others.  The  confederate  troops  were  collected  at  Corinth,  Miss.,  and  on  the  sixth 
of  April  occurred  the  battle  of  Shiloh  or  Pittsburgh  Landing.  The  Federal  forces 
on  the  Sunday,  the  first  day,  numbered  nearly  forty-eight  thousand ;  twenty -five 
thousand  from  General  Buell,  and  eight  thousand  under  General  Wallace,  joined 
them  Sunday  evening.  The  loss  was  estimated  at  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  thirty-five  killed,  seven  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty -two  wounded,  and 
three  thousand  nine  hundred  and  fifty-six  prisoners  ;  total,  thirteen  thousand  five 
hundred  and  seventy-three.  The  rebel  forces  were  estimated  at  sixty-three  thou- 


•176  G.     T.     BEAUREGARD. 

sand ;  and  their  losses  at  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-eight  killed, 

,  sight  thousand  and  twelve  wounded,  nine  hundred  and  fifty-nine  missing ;  total, 

ten  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-nine.     On  the  twenty -ninth  of  May,  Corinth 

,/ras  evacuated  in  great  haste,  while  the  forces  of  General  Halleck  were  lying 

before  it. 

"c^o  September  twenty-fourth,  1862,  Beauregard  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
'tke  Department  of  South-Carolina  and  Georgia.  On  the  sixth  of  November,  he 
•issued  an  order  directing  all  non-combatants  to  leave  Charleston,  "with  all  their 
movable  property,  including  slaves,"  in  order  "  to  avoid  embarrassments  and  de 
lays  in  case  a  sudden  necessity  should  arise  for  the  removal  of  the  entire  popula 
tion."  On  the  thirty-first  of  January,  1863,  he  issued  a  somewhat  bombastic  pro 
clamation  on  the  occasion  of  the  attempt  to  disperse  the  blockading  fleet  by  means 
of  Ingraha'm's  "  musquito  "  vessels,  in  which  he  declared  "  the  blockade  by  the 
United  States  of  the  said  city  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  to  be  raised  by  a  superior  force 
of  the  confederate  States,  from  and  after  this  thirty -first  day  of  January,  1863." 
This  was  signed  by  himself  and  D.  N.  Ingraham,  but  the  fleet  thus  declared  to 
have  been  dispersed  and  destroyed  quietly  returned  to  its  former  position  almost 
before  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  were  through  with  their  congratulations  over  its 
destruction. 

Since  that  time,  Beauregard  has  remained  at  Charleston  quiet  during  its  long 
and  weary  siege.  Its  elaborate  defences  have  been  mostly  or  largely  constructed 
under  his  direction,  and  the  city  has  profited  by  his  engineering  ability,  which  is 
by  no  means  inconsiderable.  His  success  at  Fort  Sumter,  coming  at  the  time  when 
the  South,  and  South-Carolina  in  particular,  was  in  the  first  fever-heat  of  warlike 
spirit,  gave  his  name  a  prestige  which  it  did  not  altogether  deserve.  At  Charles 
ton  he  did  only  what  no  man  could  have  failed  to  do,  with  such  odds  in  his 
favor  ;  but  the  man  who  did  that  was  the  great  military  idol  for  the  time.  After 
the  battle  of  Bull  Eun  his  hold  on  the  popular  favor  had  a  different  basis,  for  that 
battle  filled  the  South  with  the  wildest  elation,  in  which  they  saw  justified  the 
old  boast  that  one  Southerner  could  whip  five  Yankees,  and  read  the  sure  sign 
that  they  had  henceforward  only  to  march  and  give  battle  in  order  to  conquer  and 
put  to  flight.  But  the  next  nine  months  failed  to  bring  the  advance,  and  March 
brought  a  retirement  from  the  scene  of  their  first  triumph  ;  Beauregard  gave  place 
not  long  after  to  Lee,  and  he  has  sunk  to  a  lower  position.  He  has  the  wily 
characteristics  which  traditionally  belong  to  his  mongrel  blood.  In  misrepresenta 
tion,  specious  and  indefinite  charges,  and  effrontery  which  almost  is  unconscious  of 
itself,  he  is  equalled  only  by  Jefferson  Davis  himself;  while  for  attempts  at  "fir 
ing  the  Southern  heart"  no  one  has  approached  him,  and  the  people  of  the 
North  give  him  the  distinction  of  being,  of  all  the  rebel  leaders  and  helpers,  the 
most  magnificent  liar. 


SAMUEL     P.     HEI^TTZELMA^". 

SAMUEL  P.  IIEINTZELMAN  was  born  at  Manlieim,  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1806,  of  an  old  family.  Although  his  name  indicates 
German  origin,  his  ancestors  had  been  long  in  this  country.  In  1826,  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  he  graduated  from  the  Military  Academy  at  "West-Point  as  brevet 
second  lieutenant.  Next  he  became  second  lieutenant,  and  was  transferred  to  the 
Second  infantry  ;  then  first  lieutenant ;  captain  in  1833  ;  assistant  commissary  in 
1836  ;  assistant  quartermaster  and  captain  in  1838  ;  and  as  captain  served  in  the 
quartermaster's  department  in  Florida  during  the  Creek  war.  Twenty  years  after 
leaving  West-Point  —  in  1846  —  he  was  still  but  a  captain.  Congress  having 
passed  a  bill  separating  the  quartermaster's  department  from  the  line  of  the  army, 
he  resigned  his  staff  position,  and  was  directly  ordered  to  Mexico  as  captain  in  his 
old  regiment,  the  Second  infantry.  Having  acquitted  himself  with  distinction  at 
the  battle  of  Huamontalo — long  ago  forgotten — he  was  brevetted  as  major.  This 
was  in  1847,  and  in  the  following  year  he  was  ordered  to  California  and  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  Southern  District  of  that  State,  General  Hitchcock  being  com 
mander  of  the  department.  On  reaching  the  Pacific  coast,  he  found  disaffection 
toward  our  Government  existing  among  the  Spanish  population,  and  the  Yumas, 
Maricopas,  and  other  powerful  tribes  of  Indians,  were  busy  in  depredations  and 
murders  committed  upon  emigrants  on  the  plains.  In  order  to  put  an  end  to 
these  practices,  he  was  ordered  to  establish  a  post  at  the  junction  of  the  Colorado 
and  Gila  Eivers,  and,  in  the  language  of  the  order,  "  to  take  the  necessary  mea 
sures  to  protect  American  and  Mexican  citizens  from  Indian  hostilities  and  depre 
dations,  and  compel  the  Indians  to  respect  American  arms  by  making  manifest  to 
them,  as  much  as  possible,  your  power  and  justice."  Toward  the  close  of  1851, 
he  established  the  post  since  known  as  Fort  Yuma,  but  this  garrison  underwent 
such  suffering  that  for  a  time  he  returned  to  San  Diego.  In  December  of  the  same 
year  he  organized  an  expedition  which,  by  a  rapid  march  into  the  hostile  conn- 
try,  succeeded,  after  a  brief  struggle,  in  capturing  a  large  body  of  Indians.  Four 
of  the  most  troublesome  of  the  prisoners  were  tried  by  court-martial  and  shot  on 
the  very  scene  of  their  capture.  Of  this  affair  General  Hitchcock  thus  addressed 
Major  Heintzelman  in  official  dispatches  to  the  War  Department :  "I  congratulate 
you  on  the  successful  termination  of  the  long  and  tedious  warfare  with  the  Yumas, 


178  SAMUEL     P.     HEINTZELMAN. 

the  progress  of  which  has  been  attentively  watched  from  the  first.  My  entire 
assurance  that  every  measure  would  be  taken  by  you  calculated  to  secure  the  ob 
ject  of  your  presence  in  that  country  has  been  fully  realized.  No  more  important 
service  has  been  rendered  by  the  troops  on  the  Pacific  coast  than  that  just  accom 
plished  under  your  direction.  The  General  is  persuaded  that  not  only  a  vast  ex 
penditure  both  of  blood  and  treasure  has  been  spared  the  country,  but  that  the 
peace  of  the  southern  part  of  the  State  of  California  has  been  effectually  secured 
by  it."  In  another  place  and  connection  General  Hitchcock  thus  expresses  him 
self:  "To  the  energy,  valor,  and  perseverance  of  Major  Heintzelman,  in  command 
of  the  Southern  Department  of  the  State,  is  due  the  credit  of  suppressing  what 
was  likely  to  be  a  war  of  long  duration." 

From  the  close  of  185, 1  to  1854,  most  or  all  of  Heintzelman's  time  was  passed 
at  the  most  distant  of  all  army  posts,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Gila  and  Colorado 
Kivers,  but  in  1855  with  his  family  in  the  Atlantic  States.  Shortly  before  the 
close  of  Mr.  Fillmore's  administration,  he  was  nominated  to  the  Senate  as  brevet 
lieutenant-colonel,  "for  meritorious  conduct  in  command  of  an  expedition  against 
the  Yuma  Indians,"  but  the  adjournment  of  Congress  prevented  action  upon  this 
nomination  at  that  time,  and  it  was  not  till  1855  that  he  was  advanced  from  the 
brevet  majority,  in  which  he  had  done  so  much  for  the  country  and  his  own  repu 
tation,  to  the  position  of  major  in  the  First  infantry.  Following  upon  this  ap 
pointment  came  an  interregnum  of  quiet  at  Newport  Barracks,  Kentucky,  till  in 
1857  he  was  ordered  to  join  his  regiment,  which  was  then  serving  in  Texas  under 
General  Twiggs.  The  difficulty  with  Cortinas  broke  out,  and  that  marauder  was 
ravaging  the  country  about  the  Rio  Grande,  threatening  the  most  serious  conse 
quences.  Major  Heintzelman  was  ordered  by  Twiggs  from  Camp  Yerde  to  take 
^command  of  the  forces  on  the  Rio  Grande.  It  was  not  easy  to  find  the  enemy 
and  conquer  him  with  only  infantry,  but  he  was  at  last  overtaken  and  compelled 
to  fight.  After  a  severe  engagement,  Cortinas  fled  to  Mexico,  leaving  some  two 
hundred  dead  on  the  field.  It  was  an  effectual  and  abiding  lesson,  and  on  the 
twentieth  of  June,  1860,  General  Scott  transmitted  the  official  report  of  the  affair, 
adding  the  following  comment :  "  This  is  a  report  of  a  brilliant  affair  in  which 
Major  Heintzelman  distinguished  himself,  as  he  has  often  done  many  years  before. 
I  beof  to  ask  a  brevet  for  him." 

o 

In  the  winter  of  1860-61,  in  the  distant  solitude  of  Camp  Verde,  both  officers 
and  men  were  anxiously  looking  at  the  threatening  clouds  in  the  Northern  hori 
zon,  feeling  (as  one  expressed  it)  "as  if  God  were  dead."  The  treachery  of  Gene 
ral  Twiggs  surrendered  the  army  in  Texas  on  February  eighteenth,  1861,,  and  the 
officers  and  men  were  paroled.  Heintzelman  escaped  by  having  taken  advantage 
of  the  retirement  of  his  lieutenant-colonel  to  procure  leave  of  absence,  and  being  at 
Washington  in  the  spring  of  1861,  he  attended  the  inauguration  of  President  Lin- 


SAMUEL     P.     HEINTZELMAN.  179 

coin.  During  all  the  portentous  and  despairing  months  that  signalized  the  open 
ing  of  the  new  administration,  his  acknowledged  military  ability  and  sterling 
loyalty  made  him  the  confidential  adviser  of  officers  at  Washington.  In  April  of 
that  year,  he  was  stationed  for  a  short  time  at  Governor's  Island,  New- York  harbor, 
and  early  in  May  he  was  ordered  to  "Washington  as  Acting  Inspector-General.  A 
day  or  two  after  the  occupation  of  Arlington  Heights,  he  received  a  commission 
as  colonel  of  the  Seventeenth  United  States  infantry,  the  commission  bearing  date 
May  fourteenth.  This  regiment  was  a  part  of  the  new  addition  to  the  regular 
army,  and  was  then  in  process  of  organization.  Heintzelman  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  forces  at  Alexandria,  and  at  the  disaster  of  Bull  Run,  on  the 
twenty-first  of  July  following,  he  commanded  the  extreme  right  wing  of  McDow 
ell's  army.  Undisciplined  troops  as  those  were,  it  was  necessary  to  show  them  an 
inspiring  example ;  and  accordingly  Heintzelman  exposed  himself  freely,  taking 
part  personally  in  every  movement,  and  late  in  the  day  of  that  Sunday,  while 
leading  the  Brooklyn  Fourteenth  in  a  desperate  effort  to  recover  the  lost  fortunes 
of  the  field,  he  was  severely  wounded  by  a  ball-  near  the  elbow.  If  he  dismount 
ed,  faintness  might  prevent  his  remounting,  yet  he  could  not  consent  to  leave  the 
field  ;  so,  meeting  Surgeon  King  of  the  army,  he  had  the  bullet  removed  without 
stirring  from  the  saddle,  then  placed  his  arm  in  a  sling  and  went  on,  rallying  his 
straggling  troops  into  the  best  order  he  might,  and  slowly  falling  back  on  Alex 
andria.  Toward  noon  of  "  blue  Monday  "  he  reached  his  own  house  in  Washing 
ton,  and  fell  to  the  floor  as  he  crossed  the  threshold,  having  received  his  wound 
fifteen  hours  before,  and  having  sat  twenty-eight  hours  continuously  in  the  saddle. 
Not  long  after  this  trial  of  his  strength  and  courage,  he  was  made  a  brigadier-gen 
eral  of  volunteers,  and  in  October  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  left  wing 
of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  but  nothing  of  moment  occurred  during  the  follow 
ing  winter.  On  the  eighth  of  March,  1862,  the  army  was  reorganized  and  formed 
into  five  corps,  and  Heintzelman  took  the  Third,  which  consisted  of  his  old  divi 
sion,  then  commanded  by  General  Hancock,  who  was  relieved  in  front  of  York- 
town,  and  subsequently  by  Kearny  ;  of  Hooker's  division  ;  and  of  the  division  of 
Fitz-John  Porter.  The  history  of  this  corps  is  a  history  of  fighting.  About  the 
middle  of  March,  the  army  of  the  Potomac  embarked  for  the  Peninsula,  and 
Heintzelman's  corps  was  the  first  to  land  and  the  first  to  advance  on  Yorktown  ; 
being  encamped  near  the  heaviest  rebel  works,  they  also  furnished  most  of  the 
working  parties  of  the  season.  Yorktown  having  been  evacuated,  Porter's  divi 
sion  was  detached  from  Heintzelman's  corps,  which  was  ordered  in  pursuit  of  the 
retreating  rebels.  On  the  fifth  of  May,  1862,  Heintzelman  fought  the  fiercely- 
contested  battle  of  Williamsburgh,  General  Sumner,  his  ranking  officer,  being  but 
slightly  engaged. 

The  army  advanced  on  Richmond,  and  after  the  Chickahominy  was  crossed, 


180  SAMUEL     P.     HEINTZELilAN". 

Heintzelman's  command  was  doubled,  both  the  Third  and  the  Fifth  corps  being 
now  assigned  to  him.  The  bloody  week  of  battles  soon  came.  The  retreat  to  the 
banks  of  the  James  Eiver  began  with  the  repulse  at  Gaines's  Mills,  and  ended  with 
Malvern  Hill.  At  Gaines's  Mills  the  right  of  the  army  received  a  severe  check, 
and  was  ordered  to  commence  a  flank  movement  on  the  James.  The  rebel  opin 
ion  of  Gaines's  Mills  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  extract  from  an  account 
of  the  Peninsular  campaign,  written  by  a  Prussian  officer  in  the  rebel  service : 
"  Already  had  two  generals  of  the  four  hostile  brigades  been  left  by  their  men,  and 
it  was  believed  that  all  was  over  with  McClellan's  entire  army,  when  at  this  peril 
ous  crisis  General  Heintzelman  appeared  with  his  division,  and  again  brought  the 
battle  to  a  stand.  With  great  ability  and  gallantry  he  repulsed  the  onset  of  our 
troops,  and  at  once  ordered  the  organization  of  the  beaten  and  fugitive  brigades. 
But  it  was  found  impossible  to  restore  order  to  those  confused  and  intimidated 
masses.  They  bore  their  officers  along  with  them,  and  rushed  on  in  wild  disorder 
and  flight.  General  Heintzelman  saw  himself  compelled  to  abandon  his  position, 
and,  like  an  ox,  with  head  down,  ready  to  receive  an  attack  at  any  moment,  he 
drew  slowly  back  to  the  Chickahominy." 

Following  this  came  the  seven  days'  fighting.  Heintzelman  was  at  Savage 
Station ;  at  Glendale,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  but  retained  his  com 
mand  ;  at  Malvern  Hill  and  others ;  and  wherever  his  troops  were  engaged  they 
fought  successfully  and  well. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  army  at  Harrison's  Landing,  its  painful  retreat  being 
over,  Heintzelman  was  promoted  to  a  Major-Generalship,  and  when  he  arrived  at 
Yorktown  he  was  ordered  with  his  corps  to  report  to  General  Pope  in  the  Depart 
ment  of  Virginia.  On  the  twentieth  of  August  he  embarked,  and  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  his  troops  were  already  in  position,  protecting  the  railroad  to  the  Rappahan- 
nock.  But  a  little  later,  the  right  of  Pope's  army  having  been  turned  by  the 
rebels  and  his  line  of  communication  having  been  cut  off,  Heintzelman  was  ordered 
to  reopen  the  line  with  Hooker's  division.  The  rebels  were  formed  in  force  at 
Kettle  Run,  and  were  falling  back  on  the  plains  of  Manassas,  when  they  were 
overtaken  by  Heintzelman  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  August,  and  he  immediately 
engaged  them,  being  then  in  command  of  the  left  wing,  and  toward  the  close  of 
the  day  succeeded  in  driving  them  from  their  first  strong  position.  The  thirtieth 
arrived,  and  he  still  held  his  position,  but  the  centre  at  length  gave  way,  and  he 
was  ordered  to  fall  back  on  Centreville,  as  he  had  fallen  back  on  the  same  place 
more  than  a  year  previous.  On  this  retreat,  a  part  of  General  Hooker's  com 
mand — General  Philip  Kearny's  division — distinguished  itself  at  Chantilly. 

Thereupon  Heintzelman's  corps  marched  back  to  the  capital,  but  when  he 
arrived  at  Fort  Lyon,  his  former  winter  headquarters,  only  about  five  thousand 
out  of  the  original  twenty  thousand  men  of  the  old  force  x>n  the  Potomac  answered 


SAMUEL     P.     HEINTZELMAN. 

to  their  names  ;  the  rest  had  melted  away  in  the  trials  under  this  fighting  General. 
Not  long  after,  Heintzelman  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  all  the  forts  south 
of  the  Potomac ;  McClellan  being  in  command  of  the  defences  of  "Washington 
itself.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Maryland  campaign  McClellan  was  succeeded  by 
Banks,  and  when  Banks  commenced  the  organization  of  his  Gulf  expedition, 
Heintzelman  succeeded  to  the  defences  at  Washington,  where  he  still  remains. 

The  complimentary  epithet  which  shortens  the  name  of  General  Hooker,  in 
the  mouth  of  the  people,  into  the  familiar  "  Fighting  Joe,"  belongs  in  at  least  an 
equal  degree  to  General  Heintzelman.  If  he  has  not  the  dash  and  impetuosity  of 
the  former,  he  is  yet  in  the  completest  sense  of  the  word,  a  fighter.  Though  an  old 
soldier,  whose  life  was  given  to  the  military  service  in  the  beginning,  it  happened 
that  he,  as  well  as  too  many  others,  realized  the  mingled  sarcastic  humor  and  pathos 
of  the  couplet  which  says  that  "  the  army  is  hard  service,  boys — promotions  very 
slow."  They  were  slow  to  him,  for  in  twenty  years  of  hard  service  he  rose  no 
higher  than  captain.  Yet  his  work  in  California  was  of  a  highly  important  char 
acter,  and  certainly  indicated  in  him  an  ability  for  planning  for  which  the  present 
war  has  as  yet  given  him  no  opportunity.  In  this  he  has  not  so  much  directed  as 
executed,  and  in  the  fighting  positions,  and  again  in  the  most  hotly-contested  spots 
of  those,  his  corps  and  himself  have  always  been  found.  History  sometimes 
brings  out  and  emblazons  for  ever  some  whom  the  laurel  of  the  day  has  never 
crowned ;  and  so  she  will  do  for  Heintzelman,  without  snatching  a  single  leaf 
from  the  leaders  under  whom  he  fought ;  for,  honoring  the  heads  that  planned, 
she  will  honor  also  the  hands  that  fought. 

The  rough  name  of  this  General,  and  his  very  appearance  —  rugged,  virile, 
and  wiry  —  declare  him  a  soldier  trained  in  all  severe  and  masculine  experiences. 
Perhaps  rude  in  his  phrase  and  little  blessed  with  the  set  forms  of  speech ; 
perhaps  not  a  soldier  in  the  chivalric  idea,  which,  however,  hardly  belongs  to  our 
day.  No  one  would  dream  of  likening  him  to  Philip  Sidney,  in  the  qualities 
which  have  made  the  name  of  the  latter  a  perpetual  lingering  fragrance  in  the 
pages  of  history,  though  he  did  nothing ;  nor  was  Heintzelman  gifted  with  much 
in  common  with  Bayard,  the  soldier  and  likewise  the  first  gentleman  in  France, 
although,  like  Bayard,  he  was  without  fear  and  without  reproach.  Who  does  not 
love  and  admire  a  rose  for  smelling  sweet  ?  Yet  who  thinks  of  praising  the  rose 
on  that  account  ?  Sweetness  is  an  essential  characteristic  of  its  life,  which  it  can 
not  avoid  or  produce.  And  the  graceful  accomplishments,  the  sweet  and  gentle 
temper,  the  courtly  and  polished  manner  of  Sidney  were  things  which  history 
takes  note  of  in  a  passing  way  and  marks  as  illustrative  of  the  original  meaning 
in  the  term  "  gentleman  ;"  yet  the  world  at  large  knows  Sidney  only  by  the  cup 
of  water  which  he  denied  himself,  when  wounded  on  the  field,  and  gave  to  the 
soldier  who  needed  it  more.  There  is  not  that  to  be  recorded  of  Heintzelman  ; 


182  SAMUEL     P.     HEINTZELMAN. 

but  it  cannot  be  forgotten  how  he  found  a  band  of  music,  and  with  the  first 
notes  of  the  "  Star-Spangled  Banner "  re'inspirited,  for  another  charge,  our 
scattered  and  broken  troops  at  the  battle  of  Williamsburgh,  May  fifth,  1862, 
which  begun  the  Peninsula  campaign.  It  was  a  happy  thought  of  the  moment, 
but  was  also  a  touch  of  nature  which  might  have  befitted  Sidney  or  Bayard. 
The  rough  soldier  whom  war  had  battered  and  owned  all  his  life,  showed  here,  by 
a  genuine  act  of  the  heart,  that  he  was  a  man  still,  and  would  be  always. 


QUIIsrCY    ADAMS     GILLMOEE. 

QUINCY  ADAMS  GILLMORE,  Major  in  the  regular  army  and  Major-Gene 
ral  of  volunteers,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Black  River,  Loraine  County, 
Ohio,  February  twenty-eighth,  1825.  He  obtained  his  elementary  education  at 
Elyria,  Ohio,  but  receiving  an  unsolicited  appointment  of  a  cadetship  at  the  West- 
Point  Military  Academy,  he  entered  that  institution  in  June,  1845,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  and  graduated  in  1849  at  the  head  of  his  class. 

Leaving  the  Academy,  young  Gillmore  was  brevetted  a  second  lieutenant  of 
engineers  on  the  twelfth  of  July,  1849.  July  first,  1856,  he  was  promoted  to  be 
a  first  lieutenant ;  to  a  captaincy  August  sixth,  1861 ;  and  to  a  major-generalship 
in  June,  1863. 

During  the  three  years  from  1849  to  1852,  he  was  employed  as  assistant  en 
gineer  on  the  fortifications  in  Hampton  Roads,  Virginia ;  the  following  years, 
from  1852  to  1856,  he  was  in  the  department  of  practical  engineering  at  West- 
Point  ;  and  the  remaining  five  years,  till  1861,  he  passed  as  agent  for  the  engineer 
department  in  New-York  City.  During  his  residence  at  West-Point,  he  was  en 
gaged  in  a  series  of  interesting  and  novel  experiments,  to  determine  the  breaching 
power  of  the  various  projectiles  and  the  strength  ef  the  various  materials  for  forti 
fications  then  in  use.  In  order  to  record  more  permanently  the  results  of  these 
experiments,  he  had  recourse  to  the  photographic  art,  which  was  at  that  time  in 
its  beginning  in  this  country,  and  took  photographs  of  the  effect  of  every  import 
ant  shot.  These  experiments  are  now  interesting  as  showing  his  preparations, 
long  ago  made,  for  the  marvellous  achievements  in  breaching  effected  on  Forts 
Pulaski  and  Sumter. 

In  October,  1861,  he  was  appointed  Chief  Engineer  to  Brigadier-General  T. 
W.  Sherman,  commanding  the  Port  Royal  expedition,  and  he  constructed  the 
present  defences  of  Hilton  Head  Island,  after  its  capture  and  occupation  by  the 
force  under  General  Sherman.  He  was  subsequently  placed  in  command  of  the 
troops  on  Tybee  Island,  for  the  purpose  of  directing  operations  against  Fort  Pu 
laski,  and  the  breaching  of  that  Fort,  and  its  surrender  on  the  eleventh  of  April, 
1862,  form  the  first  of  the  prominent  successes  by  which  he  is  chiefly  known. 
April  twenty-eighth,  1862,  he  was  appointed  Brigadier-General,  but  on  account  of 
impaired  health  he  was  obliged  to  withdraw  from  the  field  temporarily.  In  Sep- 


184  Q.     A.     GILLMOKE. 

tember,  1862,  lie  was  ordered  to  the  department  of  the  Ohio,  and  some  time  after 
ward  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  military  district  of  Central  Kentucky, 
with  his  headquarters  at  Lexington.  On  the  thirtieth  of  March,  in  the  follow 
ing  year,  he  fought  the  battle  of  Somerset,  Kentucky,  by  which  the  rebels  were 
totally  driven  from  the  central  portion  of  the  State.  On  the  tenth  of  July, 
being  sent  to  Charleston,  he  succeeded  in  effecting  a  landing  on  Morris  Island,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  harbor,  capturing  the  rebel  cannon  and  possessing  himself 
of  the  fortifications  on  the  south  side,  thus  obtaining  the  necessary  preliminary 
foothold  for  the  conduct  of  future  operations,  and  accomplishing  this  important 
step  with  a  total  loss,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  of  only  forty.  On  the 
twenty-third  of  August,  Fort  Sumter  was  demolished  and  "  crushed  into  a  shape 
less  and  harmless  mass  of  ruins"  by" batteries  located  at  a  distance  of  more  than 
two  miles,  which  threw  their  projectiles  over  the  heads  of  the  garrisons  of  the  in 
tervening  fortifications  of  Wagner  and  Gregg. 

On  the  seventh  of  September,  Fort  Wagner  was  taken.  To  this  achievement 
General  Halleck  principally  refers  in  his  last  annual  report,  in  which  he  uses 
these  words:  "General  Gillm ore's  operations  have  been  characterized  by  great 
professional  skill  and  boldness.  He  has  overcome  difficulties  almost  unknown  in 
modern  sieges.  Indeed,  his  operations  on  Morris  Island  constitute  a  new  era  in 
the  science  of  engineering  and  gunnery." 

The  following  temperate  and  carefully  prepared  article,  which  appeared  as 
editorial  in  a  prominent  New- York  journal,  may  justly  be  quoted  here  as  a  good 
resume  of  these  operations  : 

"  It  (the  taking  of  Wagner)  was  like  the  bombardment  of  Pulaski  in  this  one 
respect — it  was  undertaken  without  the  sanction,  and  indeed  in  defiance  of  all  the 
settled  policy  and  supposed  methods  of  warfare.  The  difficulties,  to  a  military 
man,  appeared  insurmountable,  but  General  Gillmore  nevertheless  undertook  to 
evade  and  overcome  them.  Fort  Wagner  is  located  on  a  broad  part  of  the  island ; 
it  can  be  approached  only  over  a  narrow  strip  of  sandy  beach,  not  more  than 
twenty  yards  wide,  and  the  front  which  it  thus  presents  to  a  besieging  party  is 
two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  length.  The  difficulties  attending  its  reduction 
by  land  approaches,  and  which  are  quite  novel  in  the  history  of  sieges,  may  be 
thus  enumerated :  First.  The  work  was  not,  and  could  not  be,  invested ;  its  com 
munications  with  Charleston  were  open  in  the  rear,  and  it  was  therefore  of  little 
use  to  dismount  its  guns,  as  the  enemy  were  thus  able  to  keep  the  armament  at 
its  maximum  strength  and  to  repair  during  the  night-time  the  injuries  of  the  day. 
Second.  The  entire  garrison  of  the  Fort  was  kept  in  bomb-proof  shelters,  and  be 
yond  the  reach  of  any  kind  of  artillery.  Third.  It  was  (before  Wagner  taught  us 
better)  a  maxim  of  engineering  that  the  besiegers  must  envelop  at  least  one  side 
of  the  work  by  the  usual  zig-zag  approaches,  and  of  a  depth  sufficient  to  protect 


Q.     A.     GILLMORE.  185 

the  men.  To  comply  with  this  rule  was  impossible  ;  as,  if  attempted  at  all,  they 
would  have  to  be  dug  up  the  narrow  and  shallow  strip  of  sand  beach,  affording 
but  two  feet  of  depth  and  a  front  not  exceeding  one  eighth  as  great  as  that  of  the 
enemy. 

"It  is  now  evident  that  General  Gillmore  met  these  unusual  requirements  in 
a  manner  as  simple  as  it  was  skilful  and  bold,  and  undoubtedly  he  would  have 
carried  out  the  whole  of  his  original  plan,  had  not  a  sense  of  imminent  danger 
caused  the  enemy  to  run  away  from  the  final  assault.  The  work  was  approached 
in  the  usual  method  by  zig-zag,  but  limited  in  depth  and  length  to  the  shallow- 
ness  and  narrowness  of  the  strip  of  beach.  Throughout  the  progress  of  the  ap 
proaches,  especially  as  the  besiegers  neared  the  Fort,  the  sap  was  exposed  to  direct 
and  flanking  fires  from  sharp-shooters,  and  from  the  guns  of  Wagner  throwing 
grape  and  canister.  The  batteries  on  James  Island,  with  their  long-range  guns, 
took  our  trenches  in  flank  and  rear,  and  those  on  Sullivan's  Island  played  an  un 
ceasing  fire  upon  the  patient  and  persistent  workers  in  that  shallow  beach, -until 
the  sap  reached  so  near  to  "Wagner  that  these  distant  batteries  ceased  a  fire  which 
was  as  likely  to  hit  friend  as  foe.  The  ditch  of  Wagner  was  reached  on  the  night 
of  the  sixth  of  September.  The  assault  was  ordered  for  the  next  morning  at  low 
tide.  We  have  described  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  the  task.  Let  us  now 
briefly  state  the  means  employed  to  evade  them  : 

"  First.  A  calcium  light  of  great  power  was  used  to  illumine  the  enemy's 
works  at  night.  This  aided  the  fire  of  our  sharp-shooters,  while  it  dazzled  the 
sight  of  those  of  the  enemy,  and  enabled  us  to  prevent  their  making  repairs. 

"  Second.  An  artillery  fire  was  kept  up  night  and  day,  throwing  shell  over 
the  heads  of  our  sappers,  thereby  keeping  the  enemy  in  their  bomb-proof  shelters. 
So  accurate  and  terrific  was  the  artillery,  especially  the  mortar  fire,  that  our  sap 
pers  repeatedly  got  out  of  the  trench  and  looked  with  perfect  impunity  into  the 
ditch  of  Wagner. 

"  Third.  The  trenches  were  pushed  forward  by  Fort  Wagner  on  the  channel 
front,  thereby  masking  all  its  guns,  and  also  insuring  that  an  assaulting  column 
would  be  exposed  to  no  fire  except  musketry. 

"  All  these  novel  conditions  were  prescribed  by  General  Gillmore,  and  exe 
cuted  with  admirable  precision  and  courage.  How  well  they  solved  the  difficult 
problem  we  already  know.  The  simplicity  of  the  method  only  enhances  its  merit. 
Had  the  enemy  further  contested  our  advance,  it  was  intended  to  put  the  assault 
ing  column  in  trenches  at  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  seventh,  and  keep 
up  the  mortar  fire  on  the  Fort,  so  that  the  garrison  could  not  emerge  from  their 
shelter  until  the  assaulting  column  mounted  the  parapet.  This  assault  was  to  be 
made  on  the  east,  north,  and  west  faces  of  Wagner  by  passing  the  Fort  on  the  sea 
(or  east)  face  at  low  water. 


186  Q.     A.     GILLMORE. 

"But  when  the  morning  came  the  enemy  were  not  there.  They  had  no 
stomach  for  another  fight  with  the  intrepid  and  resolute  foe  with  whom  they  had 
struggled  in  the  ditch  and  on  the  parapets  in  the  midnight  assaults  of  the  previous 
month.  They  left  during  the  night,  having  previously  applied  slow  matches  to 
the  magazine  of  both  Wagner  and  Gregg,  with  the  intention  of  blowing  them  up. 
This  intention  our  men  frustrated. 

"Pulaski,  Somerset,  the  landing  on  Morris  Island,  the  demolition  of  Sum- 
ter — Wagner.  '  The  greatest  is  behind.'  Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  many 
deeds  which  may  illuminate  the  sad  story  of  this  great  rebellion,  the  capture 
of  Wagner  and  Gregg  by  General  Gillmore  will  be  regarded  as  the  greatest  tri 
umph  of  engineering  that  history  has  yet  recorded." 

The  operations  attending  the  siege  of  Fort  Pulaski,  and  the  longer  and  yet 
unfinished  siege  of  Charleston,  have  an  interest  aside  from  their  success  or  failure. 
They  were  a  series  of  great  experiments  upon  the  strength  of  building  materials 
and  the  effectiveness  of  newly-devised  projectiles.  Fort  Pulaski  was  built  by  the 
most  liberal  expenditure  of  time  and  money,  and  seemed  impregnable  so  far  as 
any  work  of  brick  or  stone  could  be  so.  Its  brick  walls  were  impregnable  against 
old  ordnance,  but  the  rifled  guns  which  formed  the  Tybee  Island  batteries  bored 
through  them  in  a  few  hours,  and  it  is  very  remarkable  that  General  Gillmore  had 
experimented  at  West-Point,  ten  years  before,  upon  the  very  kind  of  brick  of 
which  Pulaski  was  composed,  and  hence  had  but  to  reproduce,  practically  and  on 
a  vaster  and  immortal  scale,  his  former  almost  unnoticed  experiments.  Indeed, 
he  may  be  said  to  have  taken  Fort  Pulaski  ten  years  ago  at  West-Point. 

These  operations  were  wonderful  enough,  as  illustrating  the  extent  to  which 
improved  rifled  ordnance  will  soon  revolutionize  the  old  methods  of  warfare,  but 
the  breaching  of  Sumter  is  equally  remarkable.  Setting  aside  the  engineering 
triumph  of  erecting  batteries  in  sand  marshes,  there  was  exhibited  at  Sumter  the 
extraordinary  spectacle  of  breaching  a  fort  by  guns  located  at  a  distance  of  more 
than  two  miles,  throwing  their  shot  over  the  heads  of  the  garrisons  of  two  inter 
vening  hostile  forts.  But  upon  Fort  Wagner  all  ordnance  had  less  effect,  and 
consequently  some  new  method  of  approach  must  be  devised,  and  it  was  devised — 
novel  and  effective. 

The  Monitor  and  the  Merrimac  furnished  the  first  crucial  test  of  the  plan  of 
plating  vessels.  This  demonstrated  the  resisting  power  of  iron-plating  rather  than 
the  power  of  large  guns,  and  the  name  of  the  projector  of  the  little  turreted 
"  cheese-box  on  a  raft "  will  be  always  connected  with  the  new  system  of  ship 
building.  The  operations  on  Tybce  and  Morris  Islands  were,  in  like  manner,  the 
first  real  test  of  rifled-  ordnance  upon  fortifications,  and  proved  that  simple  earth 
is  better  against  shot  than  either  brick  or  stone.  They  showed  that  the  smooth- 


Q.     A.     GILLMORE. 


187 


bore  gun  of  small  weight  and  calibre  must  hereafter  be  replaced  by  rifled  ord 
nance,  sighted  and  fired  with  the  accuracy  of  the  rifle  itself ;  and  that  earth-works 
had  a  more  obstinate  power  of  resistance  than  any  other  material  yet  tried. 
These  operations  form  really  the  most  important  and  instructive  portions  of  the 
war,  and  the  time  is  not  distant  when  they  and  their  author  will  be  rated  at  the 
full  measure  of  their  value. 


EGBERT     EDMUND     LEE. 

GENEEAL  EGBERT  E.  LEE,  the  junior  officer  of  that  grade  in  the  rebel 
army,  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1808,  upon  the  Arlington  estates.  His 
father  was  Harry  Lee,  the  friend  and  eulogist  of  General  Washington.  Eobert 
received  a  liberal  education,  was  admitted  to  the  Military  Academy  at  West-Point 
in  1825,  and,  on  the  thirtieth  of  June,  1829,  graduated  second  in  his  class.  He 
entered  the  army  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  engineers  on  the  first  of  July,  1829,  and 
was,  in  1835,  appointed  assistant  astronomer  for  the  demarcation  of  the  new 
boundary  line  between  the  States  of  Ohio  and  Michigan.  September  twenty-first, 
1836,  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieutenancy,  and  on  July  seventh,  1838,  to  a  cap 
taincy.  During  1844,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  .to  the  Military 
Academy,  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Engineers  from  September  eighth,  1845, 
to  March  thirteenth,  1848.  When  General  Wool  was  in  command  of  Mexico  in 

1846,  Captain  Lee  was  Chief  Engineer  of  that  division,  and  remained  in  that  posi 
tion  during  the  war.     He  was  brevetted  Major,  April  eighteenth,  1847,  for  "  gal 
lant  conduct  at  Cerro  Gordo ;"  Lieutenant-Colonel,  August  twentieth,  1847,  for 
"  gallantry  at  Contre'ras  and  Churubusco ;"  and  Colonel,  September  thirteenth, 

1847,  for  "  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct "  at  the  battle  of  Chapultepec.     In  this 
engagement  he  was  wounded.     At  the  end  of  the  campaign  he  was  again  appoint 
ed,  July  twenty-first,  1848,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Engineers,  and  on  the  first 
of  September,  1852,  was  made  Superintendent  of  the  Military  Academy,  which 
position  he  held  until  March  third,  1855,  when  he  received  his  full  commission  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Second  cavalry.     The  regiment  was  sent  to  Texas,  but 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee  remained  upon  his  estates  at  Arlington,  and  March  six 
teenth,  1861,  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  First  cavalry.     On  the  twenty- 
fifth  of  April,  1861,  he  resigned  his  commission  and  joined  the  rebels. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  his  promotion  was  unusually  rapid,  and  the  positions 
assigned  him  were  such  as  permitted  him  to  lead  a  life  of  comparative  ease  upon 
the  estates  which  he  inherited  from  his  family.  He  was  doubtless  a  diligent 
student,  and  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education,  together  with  the  positions  he 
has  held,  have  made  him  the  ablest  general  in  the  rebel  forces.  Upon  the  organi 
zation  of  the  rebel  army,  Colonel  Lee  was  made  General,  holding  a  commission  of 


MAI  GK\   ROBE] 


ROBERT      EDMUND      LEE.  189 

the  same  date  as  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  P.  G.  T.  Beauregard,  and  Samuel  Cooper, 
ranking  third  in  this  list. 

General  Lee  was  assigned  to  the  command  in  West- Virginia,  after  the 
death  of  General  Garnett  at  Bich  Mountain,  in  August,  1861.  His  first  engage 
ment  was  at  Cheat  Mountain,  September  twelfth,  1861.  He  advanced  upon  the 
National  forces,  commanded  by  General  Keynolds,  with  nine  thousand  men  and 
twelve  pieces  of  artillery,  but  was  defeated  in  his  manoeuvres  and  compelled  to 
retire,  losing  heavily  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners.  His  aid,  Colonel  John 
A.  Washington,  was  killed  in  this  engagement.  This  battle  was  the  result  of  one 
of  General  Eosecrans's  combinations  while  operating  against  Floyd,  and  Eeynolds's 
orders  were  to  hold  Lee  in  check  while  General  Kosecrans  engaged  Floyd.  Lee 
failed  in  his  first  engagement  in  consequence  of  neglecting  the  proper  moment  for 
making  an  attack.  His  plans  were  submitted  to  the  military  authorities  at  Rich 
mond  subsequently,  and  he  was  absolved  from  all  blame  for  his  defeat.  After 
this  engagement,  General  Lee  proceeded  to  the  Kanawha  region,  for  the  purpose 
of  relieving  Floyd  and  Wise.  The  former  was  at  Meadow  Bluff,  and  the  latter 
near  the  Big  Sewell.  Lee  took  position  with  Wise,  and  held  his  lines  for  fifteen 
days  behind  strong  intrenchments,  when  finally  General  Rosecrans,  not  succeed 
ing  in  drawing  him  into  an  open  field,  returned  to  his  old  position  on  the  Gauley. 
Lee  made  no  attempt  to  follow  Rosecrans.  General  Lee  retained  command  in 
West-Virginia,  but  did  not  again  meet  the  Union  forces.  He  was,  in  December, 
transferred  from  this  department,  and  engaged  upon  the  defences  of  South-Carolina 
and  Georgia.  When  Joseph  E.  Johnston  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Seven 
Pines,  June  first,  1862,  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  rebel  army  in  Virginia. 

General  Lee  adopted  the  plans  of  his  predecessor,  and,  being  reenforced  by 
"  Stonewall  "  Jackson's  corps,  took  the  offensive.  The  initial  movements  to  the 
seven  days'  battles  were  planned  by  Lee,  including  the  demonstration  of  Jackson 
upon  Cold  Harbor.  The  battle  of  Malvern  Hill  was  fought  under  Lee's  personal 
direction.  When  he  was  satisfied  that  General  McClellan's  army  had  been  with 
drawn  from  the  Peninsula,  he  transferred  the  main  body  of  the  rebel  army  to  the 
vicinity  of  Orange  Court-IIouse,  where  he  so  arranged  his  corps  as  to  employ 
Jackson  and  Longstreet  in  an  effort  to  break  the  National  lines  of  communication. 
In  this  he  was  partially  successful,  General  Pope  making  a  rapid  retrograde  move 
ment  in  order  to  secure  his  lines  of  retreat.  This  manoeuvre  resulted  in  the 
battles  of  Manassas,  August  twenty-ninth  and  thirtieth,  1862,  and  in  the  battle  at 
Chantilly,  which  was  fought  while  the  National  forces  were  in  retreat  for  the  de 
fences  of  Washington. 

General  Lee  then  prepared  for  the  invasion  of  Maryland,  hoping  to  capture 
Washington,  or  at  least  supply  and  reenforce  his  army  from  that  Border  State. 
"  Stonewall "  Jackson  led  the  advance,  and  crossed  the  Potomac  near  Poolesville,  on 


190  ROBERT      EDMUND      LEE. 

September  fifth,  Lee  following  immediately  after.     Jackson  diverged  to  the  west 
for  the  purpose  of  investing  Harper's  Ferry,  while  Longstreet's  and  D.  H.  Hill's 
corps  were  placed  in  position  to  cover  Jackson's  operations.     These  movements 
resulted  in  the  battle  of  South-Mountain  and  Crampton's  Gap  on  the  fourteenth, 
and  in  the  surrender  of  Harper's  Ferry  on  the  fifteenth.     General  Lee  then  con 
centrated  his  forces  upon  the  field  of  Antietam  to  give  General  McClellan  battle. 
The  engagement  took  place  on  September  seventeenth,  and  resulted  in  the  defeat 
of  the  rebels.     Under  cover  of  a  flag  of  truce,  sent  for  the  purpose  of  burying  the 
dead,  they  withdrew  and  crossed  the  Potomac  near  Shepherdstown.     The  Na 
tional  army  moved  into  Virginia  on  October  twenty-sixth,  when  Lee  retreated 
slowly  and  finally  gained  a  position  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Rapidan,  where 
he  was  about  to  be  engaged  when  General  McClellan  was  relieved,  November 
seventh.     Then  the  army  of  the  Potomac  was  removed  to  Falmouth,  and  the 
rebel  army  occupied  the  heights  of  Fredericksburgh  opposite.     An  engagement 
took  place  here  on  December  thirteenth,  in  consequence  of  an  ineffectual  effort  011 
the  part  of  General  Burnside  to  assault  the  rebel  position.     The  battle  of  Chan 
cellors  ville,  May  second  and  third,  1863,  also  resulted  in  a  defeat,  in  consequence 
of  General  Hooker  attempting  to  draw  the  rebel  army  from  within  its  defences  at 
Fredericksburgh  and  give  battle  in  the  open  field.     General  Lee  then  planned  his 
second  invasion  of  Maryland,  determining  to  accomplish  it  before  the  National 
forces  could  recover  from  their  losses.     On  the  thirteenth  of  June,  the  rebels  ap 
peared  in  force  at  Winchester  and  Berryville,  and  compelled  the  surrender  of 
those  posts  ;  a  greater  part  of  the  garrison,  however,  escaping  to  Harper's  Ferry. 
On  the  fifteenth,  the  rebel  army  crossed  the  Potomac  and  occupied  Hagerstown, 
Maryland,  while  a  cavalry  advance  pushed  on  and  seized  Chambersburgh,  Pa. 
The  movements  of  Lee  were  rapid,  and  intended  to  strike  at  Harrisburgh  if  possi 
ble.     Greencastle,  Scotland,  McConnellsburgh,  Shippensburgh,  Carlisle,  and  Get- 
tysburgh,  Pa.,  were  visited  in  turn,  and  immense  stores  of  goods  were  obtained 
by  the  needy  rebels.     All  public  property  was  destroyed,  including  the  extensive 
barracks  at  Carlisle.     The  army  of  the  Potomac  crossed  into  Maryland  in  pursuit 
of  the  invaders,  and  the  advance  entered  Frederick  on  the  twenty-first  of  June, 
but  it  was  not  until  the  twenty-seventh  that  the  main  body  occupied  the  State  in 
force.     The  disposition  of  the  army  was  such  at  that  time  that  the  rebels  were  cut 
off  from  retreat,  and  their  various  corps  were  scattered  about  the  country  and 
liable  to  be  attacked  in  detail.     General  Lee  confessed  subsequently  that  he  was 
so  far  ignorant  of  the  position  of  the  National  forces  as  to  render  his  situation  ex 
tremely  critical.     Under  these  circumstances  he  recalled  his  cavalry,  and  proceed 
ed  to  concentrate  his  army  for  an  engagement.     He  was  then  in  the  vicinity  of 
Hanover,  Md.,  with  part  of  his  army  at  Gettysburgh,  Pa.     General  Hooker  was 
relieved  from  command  June  twenty -eighth,  and  General  Meade  succeeded  him. 


ROBERT      EDMUND      LEE.  191 

The  latter  proceeded  to  carry  out  the  plans  which  had  been  formed  by  his  prede 
cessor  for  the  ensuing  battle.  In  the  course  of  his  manoeuvres,  the  advance  of 
the  National  army,  under  General  Sickles,  met  a  portion  of  the  rebels  at  Gettys- 
burgh  on  the  first  of  July,  and  an  engagement  ensued  which  was  the  signal  for  the 
concentration  of  both  armies.  The  next  morning  Lee  and  Meade  had  their  com 
mands  well  upon  the  field,  and  the  contest  was  renewed  all  that  day  and  the 
next ;  the  efforts  of  the  rebels  being  an  endeavor  to  gain  possession  of  Cemetery 
Hill.  Longstreet  made  a  final  but  ineffectual  attempt  to  obtain  this  eminence  on 
the  third  day  of  the  battle,  but  was  repulsed  with  dreadful  slaughter.  This  ended 
the  engagement,  and  during  that  night  the  rebel  army  withdrew  from  the  field, 
and  on  the  fourth  of  July  was  in  full  retreat  toward  the  Potomac.  This  stream 
was  at  that  time  much  swollen  by  heavy  freshets,  the  pontoon-bridges  of  the 
rebelshad  been  destroyed,  and  the  situation  was  one  exceedingly  critical  for  them. 
But  General  Lee  proceeded  to  erect  a  pontoon-bridge  from  a  neighboring  lumber 
yard,  and  on  the  thirteenth  of  July,  while  Meade  was  debating  whether  or  not  to 
give  him  battle,  he  safely  crossed  his  army  at  Falling  Waters.  The  next  day  a 
portion  of  his  rear-guard  was  defeated  at  this  point  in  a  cavalry  engagement. 

Thus  both  Lee's  attempts  for  the  invasion  of  the  North  proved  failures,  and 
resulted  in  extensive  loss  of  men  and  munitions  of  war.  In  both  cases,  however, 
he  extricated  himself  from  his  somewhat  critical  situation  with  extraordinary  skill 
and  dexterity.  He  completely  deceived  his  foe  in  both  instances,  and  while  he 
was  in  reality  seriously  crippled,  led  him  to  believe  that  he  was  about  to  resume 
the  offensive.  The  army  of  the  Potomac  crossed  in  pursuit  of  the  rebels  almost 
immediately,  and  the  cavalry  engaged  the  rebel  rear-guard  at  Ashby's  Gap.  On 
the  twenty -ninth,  however,  all  pursuit  ceased,  and  the  army  of  the  Potomac  rested 
on  the  line  of  the  Eappahannock ;  the  rebels  taking  position  on  the  Eapidan. 
Affairs  were  comparatively  quiet  in  both  armies  until  September  twelfth,  when 
General  Meade  drove  the  rebel  forces  from  Culpeper.  The  enemy  had  meanwhile 
been  reduced  in  strength  by  the  withdrawal  of  Longstreet  to  reenforce  the  rebel 
army  in  Georgia.  Notwithstanding  this  disadvantage,  however,  so  strongly  were 
the  rebels  intrenched  that  an  advance  be}rond  Culpeper  was  considered  impracti 
cable.  Two  corps  were  withdrawn  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac  September 
twenty-eighth,  which  made  the  strength  of  each  army  about  equal.  October 
tenth,  a  skirmish  at  Eobertson's  Ford  disclosed  to  General  Meade  the  fact  that  the 
rebels  were  attempting  a  bold  flank  movement  for  the  purpose  of  getting  in  his 
rear.  In  'order  to  prevent  such  a  catastrophe  the  National  forces  were  withdrawn 
so  entirely  that  the  scheme  of  the  enemy  was  completely  frustrated.  Bristoe's 
Station  was  the  only  engagement  which  resulted  from  this  movement,  and  in  that 
the  rebels  were  defeated.  The  army  of  the  Potomac  moved  back  as  far  as  Manas- 
sas,  when,  finding  that  the  rebels  had  commenced  to  retrace  their  steps,  it  was 


192  ROBERT      EDMUND      LEE. 

advanced,  and  on  the  twenty-first  rested  again  upon  its  old  lines  on  the  Rappahan- 
nock.  This  movement  was  one  of  exceeding  boldness,  and  displayed  high  strategic 
skill  on  the  part  of  General  Lee.  Its  early  discovery  caused  its  failure.  Novem 
ber  eighth,  the  army  of  the  Potomac  pushed  forward  across  the  Rapidan  as  far  as 
Mine  Run,  but  the  season  had  then  so  far  advanced  that  further  offensive  move 
ments  were  considered  impracticable,  and  both  armies  went  into  winter  quarters 
within  their  old  lines. 

The  only  movement  of  importance  which  occurred  was  in  the  early  part  of 
February,  186-i,  when  General  Meade,  with  a  view  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
enemy  from  a  movement  up  the  Peninsula  against  Richmond,  pushed  forward  and 
had  a  brief  engagement  beyond  the  Rapidan.  Quiet  was  resumed,  however,  in  a 
few  days. 

General  Lee  spent  the  winter  months  in  endeavoring  to  provide  food  and 
clothing  for  his  army.  He  made  earnest  appeals  to  the  Southern  people  for  this 
purpose,  and,  in  a  general  order,  implored  his  troops  to  bear  patiently  the  priva 
tion  of  limited  rations  for  the  cause  in  which  they  were  engaged.  In  considera 
tion  of  his  services  to  the  country,  a  number  of  his  friends  in  the  rebel  Congress 
expressed  a  desire  to  present  him  with  a  house  for  his  family,  but  he  refused  the 
gift,  stating  that  they  were  comfortably  enough  off,  and  that  the  country  and  his 
soldiers  needed  the  money  more  than  he  or  they  did.  He  was  at  this  time  in  the 
receipt  of  only  about  one  hundred  dollars  per  month,  and  his  family  lived  in  two 
rented  rooms  in  the  plainest  manner.  Before  the  rebellion,  he  was  the  inheritor 
of  one  of  the  finest  places  in  Virginia,  the  Arlington  estate,  and  lived  a  life  of 
luxury.  While  he  was  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  he  was  spared  many 
of  the  unpleasant  duties  of  a  soldier's  life,  but  by  the  rebellion  he  has  not  only 
seen  stripped  of  his  patrimony,  but  in  three  brief  years  compelled  to  rely  upon 
his  pay  as  a  general  to  support  his  family  in  the  plainest  manner. 

General  Lee,  like  "  Stonewall "  Jackson,  has  given  up  all  for  an  idea,  and  that 
idea  is  his  State.  He  has  devoted  his  best  energies  to  her  welfare ;  sacrificed  all 
that  was  dear  to  him  for  her ;  and  will  go  down  to  his  grave  a  self-sacrificing  victim 
to  the  heresy  of  State  rights.  He  has  attained  a  high  military  reputation  and  is 
estimated  as  second  to  none  in  the  South  as  a  general.  He  is  an  able  strategist, 
bold  in  his  movements  and  rapid  in  executing  plans  well  matured.  He  sometimes 
makes  mistakes,  but  readily  sees  the  error  and  extricates  himself  from  the  conse 
quences  with  singular  dexterity.  It  was  undoubtedly  owing  to  him  that  the  two 
invasions  of  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  were  executed.  The  last-  was  so  pre 
cipitate  that  Jefferson  Davis  became  alarmed  while  it  was  in  progress  lest  it 
should  result  in  irreparable  disaster,  and  imperatively  ordered  him  to  return,  stat 
ing  that  it  was  not  by  his  (Davis's)  wish  that  the  movement  was  made.  The  at 
tempted  flank  movement  in  October,  1863,  was  a  bold  advance,  and  scarcely  any 


ROBERT      EDMUND      LEE.  193 

one  but  Lee  would  have  attempted  it.  Ilad  he  succeeded  in  his  plan  to  get  be 
tween  the  army  of  the  Potomac  and  Washington,  he  would  doubtless  have  at 
tempted  to  reenact  the  scenes  of  August,  1862,  on  the  old  battle-field  of  Bull  Run, 
and  thus  have  again  pushed  for  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  with  what  conse 
quences  may  readily  be  conjectured. 

General  Lee  is  a  very  handsome  man.  He  is  tall,  with  broad  shoulders,  and 
courteous  and  dignified  in  his  manners.  He  never  swears,  drinks,  smokes,  or 
chews'.  He  generally  wears  a  long  gray  jacket,  a  high  black  felt  hat,  and  blue 
trowsers  tucked  into  a  pair  of  long  Wellington  boots.  He  does  not  wear  arms, 
and  the  only  insignia  of  his  rank  are  three  stars  upon  his  collar.  He  rides  a  hand 
some  horse,  and  is  esteemed  neat  in  his  dress  and  person.  It  is  said  that  he  has 
not  slept  in  a  house  since  he  commanded  the  rebel  army  in  Virginia,  and  declines 
all  offers  of  hospitality.  He  is  a  religious  man,  although  not  so  demonstrative  as 
was  "  Stonewall "  Jackson,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  In  action, 
he  exhibits  bravery  but  not  recklessness.  He  forms  his  plans  of  battle,  calls  his 
lieutenants  around  him  and  assigns  each  his  post.  Then  he  goes  upon  the  field 
to  witness  the  strife,  and  leaves  to  his  immediate  subordinates  the  duty  of  modi 
fying  any  movement  which  circumstances  might  render  necessary.  So  completely 
are  his  plans  generally  formed  that  he  seldom  has  occasion  to  change  them.  On 
the  second  day  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg!!  he  gave  but  one  order  and  received 
but  one  report.  On  the  third  day,  when  disaster  was  apparent,  he  rode  anxiously 
among  his  troops,  encouraging  them  with  cheering  words.  He  spoke  to  all  the 
wounded  men  who  passed  him,  and  those  who  were  slightly  hurt  were  bidden  to 
bind  their  wounds  and  take  up  their  muskets.  He  remarked  to  an  officer :  "  This 
is  a  sad  day  for  us,  Colonel  —  a  sad  day;  but  we  cannot  always  expect  to  gain 
victories." 

General  Wilcox  reported  the  disabled  condition  of  his  brigade  to  Lee,  when 
he  remarked  cheerfully  :  "  Never  mind,  General,  all  this  has  been  my  fault ;  it  is 
/  who  have  lost  this  fight,  and  you  must  help  me  out  of  it  in  the  best  way  you 
can."  His  troops  seemed  inspired  with  the  utmost  confidence  in  their  leader, 
and,  when  they  passed  him,  cheered  and  said :  "  We've  not  lost  confidence  in  the 
'  old  man  ;'  this  day's  work  won't  do  him  any  harm.  '  Uncle  Robert '  will  get  us 
into  Washington  yet." 

The  grand  secret  of  General  Lee's  success,  where  fortune  has  vouchsafed  it  to 
him,  appears  to  lie  in  the  concentration  of  his  troops.  He  adopted  that  plan  as 
soon  as  he  took  command  of  the  rebel  army  in  Virginia,  and  it  has  scarcely  ever 
failed  him.  Circumstances  may  have  favored  this  line  of  tactics  in  some  cases, 
but  generally  it  has  been  adopted  as  part  of  the  plan  of  battle  without  regard  to 
the  peculiar  situation  of  affairs. 


WILLIAM    HEISTEY     SEWAED, 

THE  Sewards  are  of  Welsh  origin.  Their  first  home  in  this  country  was  in 
Connecticut.  Afterward,  about  1740,  a  portion  of  the  family  removed  to 
New-Jersey,  and,  later,  other  branches  to  the  Southern  States.  One  of  that  name 
was  recently  a  representative  in  Congress  from  Georgia.  The  subject  of  this  me 
moir  belongs  to  the  New -Jersey  branch.  His  grandfather  was  a  prominent  actor 
in  the  Revolution.  His  father  having  received  a  professional  education,  as  his 
patrimony,  settled  in  Orange  County,  New- York,  in  1795.  The  little  village 
which  he  chose  for  his  home  was  called  Florida.  It  is  in  the  town  of  Warwick, 
about  five  miles  south  of  Goshen,  of  which  it  was  once  a  part.  The  village,  as  its 
name  imports,  is  as  beautiful  in  its  landscape  as  the  scenery  of  the  whole  county 
is  noble  and  sublime.  * 

WILLIAM  HENRY  SEWARD  was  born  in  the  village  of  Florida,  May  sixteenth, 
1801.  His  father,  Samuel  S.  Seward,  held  the  office  of  County  Judge  in  Orange 
for  seventeen  years,  and  was  distinguished  for  more  than  ordinary  business  ability, 
pursuing  at  the  same  time  his  profession  as  a  physician,  attending  to  his  duties  on 
the  bench  and  engaging  largely  in  mercantile  and  manufacturing  enterprises.  He 
died  in  1849.  Beside  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  his  heirs,  he  endowed  an  academy 
in  Florida  with  a  fund  of  twenty  thousand  dollars.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  Wil 
liam  H.,  was  as  remarkable  for  generosity  and  amiability  as  her  husband  was  for 
enterprise  and  industry.  The  son  seems  to  have  inherited  the  combined  charac 
teristics  of  his  parents.  From  childhood  he  exhibited  a  love  of  knowledge,  and 
an  earnest  inclination  and  taste  for  study.  Books  were  his  favorite  companions, 
and  he  ran  away — to  school.  When  nine  years  of  age,  he  was  sent  to  Farmer's 
Hall  Academy,  at  Goshen,  in  Orange  County.  There,  and  at  an  academy  subse 
quently  established  in  his  native  town,  he  pursued  his  studies  until  his  fifteenth 
year,  wrhen  he  entered  Union  College  at  Schenectady.  "  Thin,  pale,  sandy-vis- 
aged,"  as  he  is  said  to  have  been,  there  was  perhaps  no  great  promise  in  his  ap 
pearance,  for  he  was  persuaded  to  enter  the  Sophomore  class,  though  upon  exami 
nation  he  was  found  qualified  for  the  Junior.  His  favorite  studies  in  college  were 
rhetoric,  moral  philosophy,  and  the  ancient  classics. 

In  the  year  1819,  when  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  while  in  the  Senior  class, 
he  withdrew  from  college,  and  for  about  six  months  was  engaged  as  a  teacher  at 


I  I.)  ii  .    Win      .11  .     S  E  \\'A  H  1) 


WILLIAM      HENRY      SEWARD.  195 

the  South.  Slavery  was  not  altogether  strange  to  him,  for  he  had  seen  some  rem 
nant  of  it  in  his  native  State  and  in  his  father's  family — even  his  own  nurse  had 
been  a  negro  slave  ;  yet  his  experience  of  life  at  the  South  tended  to  confirm  and 
deepen  a  natural  hostility  to  that  form  of  oppression.  Seward  returned  to  his 
college  and  was  graduated  with  high  honors.  He  was  one  of  three  commence 
ment  orators  chosen  by  the  college  society  to  which  he  belonged,  and  the  subject 
of  his  oration  was,  "  The  Integrity  of  the  American  Union."  Thus,  before  he  had 
attained  the  age  of  manhood,  he  felt  his  way  instinctively  to  that  cause  which  was 
to  employ  the  ripened  abilities  of  his  later  life. 

Soon  after  his  graduation,  Mr.  Seward  entered  the  office  of  John  Anthon,  in 
New- York  City,  as  a  law  student ;  completed  his  preparation  with  John  Duer  and 
Ogden  Hoffman,  in  Goshen,  became  associated  with  the  latter,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  1822.  In  January  of  the  next  year,  he  took 
up  his  residence  in  Auburn,  where  he  formed  a  business  connection  with  the  Hon. 
Elijah  Miller,  whose  youngest  daughter  he  married  in  1824.  By  severe  industry 
he  soon  became  possessed  of  an  extensive  and  successful  practice. 

He  gave  also  considerable  attention  to  politics.  His  father  had  been  an  ar 
dent  Jeffersonian  Democrat.  If  the  first  prepossessions  of  the  son  were  in  favor 
of  that  party,  the  struggle  incident  to  the  admission  of  Missouri  into  the  Union 
convinced  him  that  subserviency  to  Southern  influence  ruled  in  the  Democratic 
party,  and  he  left  it,  avowing  his  unchangeable  opposition  to  the  extension  of 
slavery.  In  October,  1824,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  he  drew  up  the  "  Address 
of  the  Eepublican  Convention  of  Cayuga  County  to  the  People,"  which  was  a 
prophetic  exposure  of  the  origin  and  designs  of  the  Albany  Eegency.*  General 
Jackson's  election  to  the  Presidency  in  1828  dissolved  the  National  Eepublican 
party  of  Western  New- York,  and  thus  the  only  opposition  left  to  the  Eegency 
was  the  Anti-Masonic  organization,  and  from  that  party  Mr.  Seward,  in  1830,  re 
ceived  the  nomination  to  represent  the  seventh  district  in  the  State  Senate.  He 
had  in  1828  been  nominated  for  Congress  by  the  Anti-Masons,  but  with  his  char 
acteristic  sense  of  fidelity,  he  declined,  for  the  reason  that  he  still  belonged  to  the 
National  Eepublican  party. 

It  was  during  that  year  that  he  presided  over  a  State  Convention  of  Young 
Men,  held  at  Utica,  to  advocate  the  reelection  of  John  Quincy  Adams  to  the  Pre 
sidency.  Among  this  assemblage  of  young  men,  remarkable  alike  for  numbers 
and  ability,  Mr.  Seward  was  at  once  recognized  as  the  leading  spirit ;  and  the 
genius  he  there  exhibited  is  still  vividly  remembered.  He  was  elected  to  the 
Senate  by  a  majority  of  two  thousand  votes,  and  took  his  seat  in  January,  1831, 
probably  the  youngest  member  that  ever  entered  the  New- York  Senate. 

Against  the  formidable  power  of  the  Jackson  party  and  the  Albany  Eegency 

*  Works  of  W.  H.  Seward,  Vol.  I.  p.  51. 


196  WILLIAM      HENRY      SEWARD. 

the  opposition  was  necessarily  feeble ;  but  young  Seward  fearlessly  entered  it,  and 
became  its  acknowledged  leader.  He  took  part  in  all  the  debates  ;  supported  the 
common  school  system,  the  abolition  of  imprisonment  for  debt,  and  the  meliora 
tion  of  prison  discipline.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  friends  of  the  Erie  Eailroad, 
and  supported  the  Jackson  administration  in  regard  to  Southern  nullification. 
His  first  speech  was  on  a  militia  bill,  and  he  then  proposed  to  substitute  for  the 
general  performance  of  military  duty  the  formation  of  volunteer  uniformed  com 
panies,  substantially  the  system  now  (1864)  in  use  in  the  State  of  New- York. 
During  the  second  session  of  his  term,  Mr.  Seward  spoke  in  favor  of  a  resolution 
which  declared  the  necessity  of  a  national  bank.  His  speech  was  an  elaborate  criti 
cism  of  Jackson's  objections  to  the  renewal  of  the  bank  charter.  This  speech, 
with  others  of  the  same  nature,  concentrated  an  opposition  in  the  Legislature  and 
among  the  people,  and  thus  gave  rise  to  what  subsequently  became  known  as  the 
Whig  party. .  In  1833,  Mr.  Seward  visited  Europe  in  company  with  his  father, 
and  travelled  through  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom,  France,  Holland,  Germany, 
Switzerland,  and  Sardinia,  From  those  countries  he  wrote  home  the  series  of 
letters  subsequently  published  in  the  Albany  Journal* 

Mr.  Seward  was  nominated  in  September,  1834,  by  the  Whig  State  Conven 
tion  as  candidate  for  Governor  of  New-York.  But  the  party  was  immature ;  it 
had  not  yet  won  popular  confidence,  and  its  young  candidate  was  defeated  by  the 
reelection  of  William  L.  Marcy. 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  canvass,  Mr.  Seward  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  and  in  1836  settled  in  Chautauque  County,  as  the  agent  of  the 
Holland  Land  Company.  In  this  difficult  position  he  established  a  lasting  repu 
tation  as  a  man  of  business  and  as  a  wise  and  just  arbitrator.  In  1838,  he  was 
again  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Whig  party,  and  was  elected  by  ten  thou 
sand  majority.  Governor  Seward's  administration  was  one  of  great  mark  in  the 
history  of  the  State.  The  Anti-Kent  Eebellion  occurred,  and  was  quelled ;  the 
State,  and  with  it  the  country,  was  safely  carried  through  the  threatened  trouble 
of  the  McLeod  case,  without  the  loss  of  honor  ;  the  Erie  Cana,l  was  enlarged  ;  im 
prisonment  for  debt  was  abolished,  and  every  vestige  of  slavery  removed  from  the 
statute-books  ;  the  State  Lunatic  Asylum  was  established  ;  important  election  re 
forms  were  effected,  and  reforms  were  also  made  in  prison  discipline,  in  bank  laws, 
and  in  the  law  courts.  Measures  for  the  more  general  diffusion  of  education  and 
to  facilitate  immigration  were  initiated.  Governor  Seward  took  ground  also 
against  the  rendition  of  fugitives  from  justice  in  connection  with  slavery,  and 
maintained  his  position  in  a  correspondence  with  the  Governor  of  Virginia  in  what 
has  since  been  known  as  the  "  Virginia  Controversy,  "f 

*  See  Works  of  W.  II.  Seward,  Vol.  III.  p.  508.  t  See  Works  of  W.  II.  Seward,  Vol.  II. 


WILLIAM      HENRY      SEWARD.  197 

It  was  during  his  administration  as  Governor  that  Mr.  Seward  may  be  said  to 
have  laid  the  foundation  of  the  great  Republican  party,  which  twenty  years  after 
ward  triumphed  in  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Having  been  reflected  in  1840,  Governor  Seward  declined  a  renomination, 
and  in  1843,  upon  the  expiration  of  his  second  term,  he  retired  to  Auburn  and  re 
sumed  the  practice  of  law.  For  six  years  he  devoted  himself  with  great  assiduity 
to  business,  and  obtained,  in  addition  to  an  extensive  practice  in  the  State  courts, 
a  large  and  lucrative  one  in  patent  cases  in  the  National  courts,  and  was  thus 
brought  into  association  with  the  most  distinguished  jurists  in  the  United  States. 
During  this  period  he  appeared  in  many  celebrated  cases,  and  very  conspicuously 
in  the  case  of  the  negro  Freeman,  indicted  for  the  murder  of  the  Van  Nest  family.* 
He  also  pleaded  gratuitously  the  case  of  John  Yan  Zandt  before  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  charged  with  aiding  certain  fugitives  in  their  attempt  to  escape 
from  slavery.  Hardly  less  celebrated  was  his  defence  of  fifty  citizens  of  Michigan, 
charged  with  conspiracy,  a  trial  lasting  four  months.  In  nearly  all  these  cases  he 
not  only  gave  his  services,  but  in  some  of  them  he  bore  the  heavy  expenses  of 
the  defence.  He  seems  to  have  derived  his  rule  of  conduct  as  a  lawyer  from 
Cicero:  " Hoc  maxime  officii  est,  ut  quisquam.maxime  opus  indigeat,  ita  ei  potissi- 
mum  opitulari."\ 

In  1848,  Mr.  Seward  earnestly  supported  the  election  of  General  Taylor  as 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  canvassed  in  his  behalf  the  States  of  New- 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  Massachusetts.  In  all  his  speeches  during  the 
campaign  Mr.  Seward  kept  constantly  in  view  the  principles  of  the  growing  party 
of  freedom,  of  which  he  had  already  come  to  be  regarded  as  the  leader.  He  bold 
ly  announced  that  the  end  and  aim  of  that  party  was  to  abolish  slavery.  At 
the  same  time,  he  did  not  forget  to  declare,  as  the  first  principle  in  its  platform, 
"  our  duty  as  American  citizens  to  preserve  the  integrity  of  the  Union." 

At  this  election  a  Whig  majority  was  returned  to  the  New- York  Legislature, 
and  Mr.  Seward  was,  by  common  consent,  named  for  the  vacancy  soon  to  occur  in 
the  United  States  Senate.  He  was  elected  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
one  to  thirty,  and  took  his  seat  on  the  fourth  of  March,  1849,  in  the  Thirty-first 
Congress. 

General  Taylor's  administration  was  opposed  by  the  Southern  members,  in 
the  apprehension  that  he  would  adopt  a  decided  anti-slavery  policy.  Identified 
with  such  a  policy,  and  with  the  support  of  General  Taylor's  administration,  Mr. 
Seward  became  recognized  as  the  foremost  advocate  of  Government  measures. 
But,  for  a  consistent  resistance  to  the  ever-hungry  encroachments  of  the  slave 

*  See  Works  of  W.  H.  Seward,  Vol.  I.  p.  409. 
t  "  The  clear  point  of  duty  is,  to  assist  most  readily  those  who  most  need  assistance." 


198  WILLIAM      HENRY      SEWARD. 

power,  lie  was  denounced  by  it  and  its  supporters  as  an  agitator  and  a  dangerous 
man.  -In  the  debate  on  the  admission  of  California,  March  eleventh,  1850,  he 
spoke  thus  :  "  It  is  true  indeed  that  the  national  domain  is  ours.  It  is  true  it  was 
acquired  by  the  valor  and  with  the  wealth  of  the  whole  nation.  But  we  hold, 
nevertheless,  no  arbitrary  power  over  it.  We  hold  no  arbitrary  authority  over 
any  thing,  whether  acquired  lawfully  or  seized  by  usurpation.  The  Constitution 
regulates  our  stewardship  ;  the  Constitution  devotes  the  domain  to  union,  to  jus 
tice,  to  defence,  to  welfare,  and  to  liberty.  But  there  is  a  higher  law  than  the 
Constitution,  which  regulates  our  authority  over  the  domain  and  devotes  it  to  the 
same  noble  purposes.  The  territory  is  a  part,  no  inconsiderable  part,  of  the  com 
mon  heritage  of  mankind  bestowed  upon  them  by  the  Creator  of  the  universe." 
Mr.  Seward  has  thus  been  made  the  author  of  the  phrase,  "  the  higher  law." 

Senator  Seward  took  part  in  all  the  more  important  debates,  and  spoke  upon 
the  compromise  measures  of  1850,  on  the  public  domain,  on  Hungarian  affairs, 
in  support  of  his  own  resolution  of  welcome  to  Kossuth,  on  the  motion  to  declare 
the  sympathy  of  Congress  with  the  exiled  Irish  patriots  O'Brien  and  Meagher,  on 
the  survey  of  the  Arctic  and  Pacific  Oceans,  on  the  fisheries,  and  various  other 
topics  of  national  interest.  Upon  the  close  of  his  first  Senatorial  term,  in  1855, 
Mr.  Seward  was  reflected,  though  persistently  opposed  by  the  "  American  "  or 
Know-Nothing  party,  to  whose  doctrines  he  could  in  no  wise  bend,  and  by  the 
Democratic  party,  for  his  desire  to  restrict  slavery.  Toward  the  election  of  Colo 
nel  Fremont  to  the  Presidency,  in  1856,  he  labored  zealously  and  effectively. 
With  like  fidelity  he  had  also  supported  General  Scott  in  the  previous  canvass. 
In  an  address  to  the  people  of  Rochester,  New-York,'  made  in  1858,  Mr.  Seward, 
in  reference  to  the  collision  between  the  two  systems  of  labor — free  and  slave — 
in  the  United  States,  said  :  "  Shall  I  tell  you  what  this  collision  means  ?  They 
who  think  that  it  is  accidental,  unnecessary,  the  work  of  interested  or  fanatical 
agitators,  and  therefore  ephemeral,  mistake  the  case  altogether.  It  is  an  irrepressi 
ble  conflict  between  opposing  and  enduring  forces,  and  it  means  that  the  United 
States  must  and  will,  sooner  or  later,  become  either  entirely  a  slaveholding  nation 
or  entirely  a  free-labor  nation."  For  this  phrase  also,  "An  irrepressible  conflict," 
Mr.  Seward  has  been  not  less  bitterly  reviled  and  contemned  than  for  that  other 
of  "the  higher  law,"  though  like  that  it  contained  clearly  enough  a  great  truth. 

In  1859,  in  pursuance  of  a  long-cherished  desire,  and  in  search  of  renewed 
health  and  strength  somewhat  impaired  by  long  and  arduous  public  service,  Mr. 
Seward  made  a  second  and  more  extended  visit  to  the  Old  World. 

His  second  Senatorial  term  expired  March  third,  1861.  Only  a  short  time 
previous  to  its  conclusion,  and  when  the  Southern  rebellion  had  become  fully 
manifest,  he  boldly  entered  the  contest  in  these  words  :  "I  avow  my  adherence  to 
the  Union — with  my  friends,  with  my  party,  with  my  State,  or  without  either,  as 


WILLIAM      HENRY      SEWARD.  199 

they  may  determine ;  in  every  event  of  peace  or  of  war,  with  every  consequence 
of  honor  or  dishonor,  of  life  or  death." 

It  is  impossible  in  so  brief  a  sketch  as  this,  to  do  justice  to  the  Senatorial 
career  of  Mr.  Seward.  For  twelve  years  he  stood  forth  in  the  forum  of  the  Senate 
as  the  champion  of  Freedom  and  Justice,  and  the  advocate  of  every  measure  de 
signed  to  advance  the  interests  and  welfare  of  the  Union.  He  resisted  with  great 
power  and  eloquence  the  enactment  of  the  slavery  compromises  of  1850,  and  the 
abrogation  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  in  1854.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in 
bringing  California  and  Kansas  into  the  Union,  Free  States.  The  Pacific  Eailroad 
and  the  establishment  of  mail  communication  with  Europe  and  Asia  were,  to  some 
extent,  measures  of  his  own  and  with  which  he  was  prominently  identified.  His 
speeches  were  heard  with  profound  respect  in  the  Senate,  while  the  intelligent 
portion  of  the  people  of  the  Eepublic  read  them  with  instruction  and  delight. 

As  the  Presidential  election  of  1860  approached,  it  became  evident  that  the 
slave  oligarchy  was  to  be  finally  dethroned,  and  the  party  to  which  Mr.  Seward 
had  devoted  his  life  was  to  be  placed  in  power.  Naturally,  the  people  turned 
their  eyes  to  him  as  the  Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  A  National 
Convention  was  held  at  Chicago  in  May,  1860.  The  first  ballot  in  Convention 
showed  one  hundred  and  seventy -three  votes  for  Mr.  Seward,  and  one  hundred 
and  two  for  Mr.  Lincoln,  with  one  hundred  and  ninety  for  ten  other  candidates. 
On  the  last  ballot,  Mr.  Seward  received  one  hundred  and  eighty  and  Mr.  Lincoln 
the  combined  vote  of  the  remainder  of  the  Convention,  and  was  thus  made  the 
candidate  of  the  Republican  party.  The  States  which  persistently  voted  for  Mr. 
Seward  were  Maine,  Massachusetts,  New- York,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota, 
California,  and  Kansas.  However  much  disappointed  Mr.  Seward's  friends  may 
have  been,  no  trace  of  such  feeling  was  ever  betrayed  by  him.  On  the  contrary, 
when  the  canvass  seemed  laggard  and  the  result  doubtful  he  at  once,  with  his  ac 
customed  energy,  entered  the  field  as  the  most  eloquent  and  powerful  advocate  of 
the  cause  and  its  candidate.  His  speeches  in  Maine,  Massachusetts,  New-York, 
Michigan,  Ohio,  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Missouri,  and  Kansas,  dur 
ing  the  campaign,  roused  the  people,  and  insured  a  triumphant  success.  Immedi 
ately  after  Mr.  Lincoln  was  officially  informed  that  he  had  been  elected  President, 
he  tendered  the  chief  place  in  his  Cabinet  to  Mr.  Seward.  Every  thing  of  a  per 
sonal  nature  conspired  to  lead  Mr.  Seward  to  decline  any  further  public  service. 
But  it  is  not  in  his  nature  to  shrink  from  a  great  responsibility,  especially  from 
one  which  he  is  charged  with  having  himself  created. 

On  the  fourth  of  March,  1861,  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Secretary  of 
State.  Among  his  first  public  acts  was  an  order  to  the  Marshal  of  the  District 
of  Columbia,  forbidding  the  long-accustomed  use  of  the  jail  as  a  place  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  fugitive  slaves.  In  April,  1862,  he  negotiated  a  treaty  with  Lord 


200  WILLIAM      HENRY      SEWARD. 

Lyons  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade,  which  was  ratified  with  unusual 
promptness  and  unanimity  by  the  respective  Governments  of  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain. 

In  closing  a  despatch  to  Mr.  Adams,  dated  April  eighth,  Mr.  Seward  says : 
"  I  have  just  signed,  with  Lord  Lyons,  a  treaty  which  I  trust  will  be  approved  by 
the  Senate  and  by  the  British  government.  If  ratified,  it  will  bring  the  African 
slave-trade  to  an  end  immediately  and  for  ever.  Had  such  a  treaty  been  made  in 
1808,  there  would  now  have  been  no  sedition  here,  and  no  disagreement  between 
the  United  States  and  foreign  nations.  We  are  indeed  suffering  deeply  in  this 
civil  war.  Europe  has  impatiently  condemned  and  deplored  it.  Yet  it  is  easy  to 
see  already  that  the  calamity  will  be  compensated  by  incalculable  benefits  to  our 
country  and  to  mankind.  Such  are  the  compensations  of  Providence  for  the  sacri 
fices  it  exacts." 

No  less  distinguished  for  ability  and  statesmanship  is  his  satisfactory  settle 
ment  of  the  international  difficulty  which  arose  from  the  seizure  of  Mason  and 
Slidell,  on  board  the  British  steamer  Trent,  by  Commander  "Wilkes  of  the  United 
States  Navy. 

He  has  recently  submitted  to  Congress  a  plan  to  encourage  and  facilitate  im 
migration —  a  measure  destined  probably  to  be  of  inestimable  importance  to  the 
welfare  of  this  country.  While  he  was  Governor  of  New- York,  he  recommended, 
as  already  stated,  a  similar  system,  which  is  now  in  successful  operation  in  that 
State,  under  the  direction  of  the  "Commissioners  of  Emigration."  In  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States  and  in  the  Cabinet  he  has  always  maintained  broad  and 
liberal  views  of  foreign  immigration,  while  he  has  never  been  able  to  approve  of 
any  scheme  for  the  colonization  abroad  of  the  colored  people  of  his  own  country. 

But  the  time  has  not  yet  arrived  for  a  full  review  of  Mr.  Seward's  course  as 
Secretary  of  State.  That  the  success  or  failure  of  the  rebellion  depends  very 
much  on  the  wisdom  and  sagacity  with  which  our  foreign  relations  are  treated  is 
as  unquestionable  as  that  so  heavy  a  responsibility  could  not  have  been  intrusted 
to  abler  hands.  Mr.  Seward's  previous  character  warranted  what  the  experience 
of  the  last  three  years  has  demonstrated.  His  diplomatic  correspondence,  which 
Congress  has  published,  shows  something  of  the  work  he  has  performed.  Al 
though  his  sphere  of  labor  has  been  almost  entirely  with  foreign  governments,  the 
reflex  influence  of  his  published  despatches  upon  the  people  at  home  has  been 
scarcely  less  important.  He  has  inspired  their  confidence  in  the  darkest  hours, 
enlightening  their  understandings  as  to  the  character  of  the  war  in  all  its  phases,' 
and  stimulated  them  to  renewed  and  greater  endeavors.  We  can  quote  here  but 
a  few  of  the  remarkable  passages  which  have  so  affected  all  loyal  hearts.  The 
volumes  already  published  comprise  over  three  thousand  printed  pages  of  corre 
spondence. 


WILLIAM      HENRY      SEWARD.  201 

That  the  nature  of  the  great  conflict  was  well  understood  by  Mr.  Seward, 
even  before  it  broke  out  in  war,  is  clearly  seen  in  one  of  his  earliest  despatches,  in 
these  words  :  "  The  object  of  the  revolution  is  to  create  a  nation  built  upon  the 
principle  that  African  slavery  is  necessary,  just,  wise,  and  beneficent,  and  that  it 
may  and  must  be  expanded  over  the  central  portion  of  the  American  continent 
and  islands  without  check  or  resistance,  at  whatever  cost  and  sacrifice  to  the 
welfare  and  happiness  of  the  human  race."  To  Mr.  Dayton  he  writes,  in  May, 
1861  :  "  You  cannot  be  too  decided  or  too  explicit  in  making  known  to  the 
.  French  government  that  there  is  not  now,  nor  has  there  been,  nor  will  there  be, 
any,  the  least  idea  existing  in  this  Government  of  .suffering  a  dissolution  of  this 
Union  to  take  place  in  any  way  whatever.  .  .  .  The  thought  of  a  dissolution 
of  the  Union,  peaceably  or  by  force,  has  never  entered  into  the  mind  of  any  candid 
statesman  here." 

After  the  President  had  issued  his  proclamation  of  freedom,  Mr.  Seward 
wrote :  "  The  interests  of  humanity  have  now  become  identified  with  the  cause 
of  our  country.  .  .  .  It  is  hoped  and  believed  that  after  the  painful  experi 
ence  we  have  had  of  the  danger  to  which  the  Federal  connection  with  slavery  is 
exposing  the  Republic,  there  will  be  few  indeed  who  will  insist  that  the  decree 
which  brings  this  connection  to  an  end  either  could  or  ought  to  have  been  further 
deferred." 

In  view  of  prevailing  apprehensions  of  war  with  France  or  England,  Mr. 
Seward  says  :  "We  do  no  such  injury  to  our  cause,  and  no  such  violence  to  our 
national  self-respect,  as  to  apprehend  that  the  Union  is  to  be  endangered  by  any 
foreign  war  that  shall  come  upon  us,  unprovoked  and  without  excuse. 
It  is  indeed  a  fearful  drama  which  the  Almighty  Ruler  of  nations  has  appointed 
us  to  enact.  But  it  does  not  surpass  the  powers  he  has  given  us  to  sustain  the 
performance.  Not  only  friendly  nations,  but  human  nature  itself  is  interested  in 
its  success,  and  must  not  be  disappointed." 

Mr.  Seward  has  been  able,  in  addition  to  his  public  and  professional  labors, 
to  devote  some  portion  of  his  time  to  literary  efforts ;  among  which  we  may  name 
his  Orations  on  John  Quincy  Adams,  La  Fayette,  and  O'Connell,  his  Addresses  at 
Yale  College,  Columbus  University,  Plymouth  Pilgrims'  Celebration,  and  the 
American  Institute.  These,  with  several  discourses  on  Agriculture,  Education, 
Internal  Improvements,  etc.,  have  established  his  reputation  as  an  author  and  an 
orator.  His  Messages  to  the  Legislature  while  Governor,  his  numerous  speeches 
in  the  Senate  of  New- York  and  in  the  United  States  Senate,  and  his  forensic  argu 
ments,  together  with  the  orations,  addresses,  and  discourses  just  named,  and  also 
many  of  his  speeches  in  the  election  campaigns  of  1844  to  1860,  have  been  pub 
lished  in  four  large  octavo  volumes,  entitled  The  Works  of  William  If.  /Seward. 


GEORGE     II.     THOMAS. 

AMONG  the  few  officers  of  the  army  from  the  Southern  States  who,  having 
received  an  education  at  the  National  Military  Academy,  have  remained 
true  to  the  Union  which  had  reared  and  educated  them — the  Abdiels  of  our  civil 
war, 

"Faithful  among  the  faithless  found" — 

Major-General  George  II.  Thomas  deserves  prominent  and  honorable  mention. 

He  was  born  in  Southampton  County,  Virginia,  July  thirty -first,  1816.  His 
father,  John  Thomas,  was  of  English  descent,  and  his  mother,  Elizabeth  Eochelle, 
was  of  that  Huguenot  stock  which  in  the  seventeenth  century  left  country  and 
kinsfolk  for  the  sake  of  its  holy  faith.  The  family  was  wealthy  and  influential, 
and  young  Thomas  received  a  good  education,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  became 
deputy  to  his  uncle,  James  Eochelle,  Clerk  of  Southampton  County,  and  com 
menced  the  study  of  law  in  his  office.  From  some  cause  his  attention  was  soon 
after  turned  to  military  life,  and  having  received  in  the  spring  of  1836,  through 
the  influence  of  his  family,  an  appointment  as  cadet  at  West-Point,  he  entered  the 
Academy  in  the  following  June,  at  the  age  of  about  twenty  years.  He  main 
tained  a  fair  position  as  a  student  in  the  Academy,  graduating  twelfth  in  a  class 
of  forty-five,  in  June,  1840,  and  receiving  at  once  a  commission  as  Second  Lieu 
tenant  in  the  Third  artillery.  In  November  of  the  same  year  he  joined  his  regi 
ment  in  Florida,  where  the  Seminole  war  was  then  in  progress.  In  November, 
1841,  he  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant  "  for  gallant  conduct  in  the  war  against  the 
Florida  Indians."  In  January,  1842,  Lieutenant  Thomas  was  ordered  with  his 
company  to  New-Orleans  barracks,  and  in  June  of  the  same  year  to  Fort  Moiiltrie, 
Charleston.  On  the  seventeenth  of  May,  1843,  he  was  promoted  to  a  first  lieuten 
ancy,  and  in  December  of  the  same  year  ordered  to  duty  with  company  C,  Third 
light  artillery,  then  stationed  at  Fort  McIIenry,  Baltimore.  In  the  spring  of 
1844,  he  was  again  on  duty  at  Fort  Moultrie. 

On  the  first  indications  of  a  war  with  Mexico,  July,  1845,  Lieutenant  Thomas 
was  ordered  with  his  company  to  Texas,  to  report  for  duty  to  General  Zachary 
Taylor.  This  artillery  company  and  the  Third  and  Fourth  regiments  of  infantry, 
U.  S.  A,  were  the  first  United  States  troops  which  occupied  the  soil  of  Texas. 


.(  (Ri  iK    H.THOM 


GEORGE      H.      THOMAS.  203 

After  marching  from  Corpus  Christ!  to  the  Rio  Grande,  Lieutenant  Thomas's  com 
pany,  with  one  company  of  the  First  artillery  and  six  companies  of  the  Seventh 
United  States  infantry,  were  left  to  garrison  Fort  Brown,  opposite  Matamoras, 
while  General  Taylor,  with  the  main  body  of  his  army,  fell  back  to  Point  Isabel 
to  establish  there  a  depot  of  supplies.  On  the  second  of  May,  1846,  the  Mexicans 
invested  Fort  Brown,  and  bombarded  it  until  the  eighth,  when  they  withdrew  to 
reenforce  General  Ampudia  at  Eesaca  de  la  Palma.  On  the  ninth,  General  Taylor 
defeated  Ampudia  at  Eesaca  de  la  Palma,  and  drove  him  and  his  army  across  the 
Rio  Grande,  the  garrison  at  Fort  Brown  contributing  to  the  decisiveness  of  the 
victory  by  pouring  a  terrible  and  unintermitting  fire  of  shot  and  shell  into  the 
ranks  of  the  retreating  foe  as  they  were  struggling  in  the  utmost  confusion  to 
cross  the  river  and  thus  escape  Taylor's  relentless  pursuit.  After  the  evacuation 
of  Matamoras,  Lieutenant  Thomas  was  detached  from  his  company,  and  with  a 
section  of  his  battery  assigned  to  temporary  duty  with  the  advance-guard,  first  at 
Reynosa,  and  afterward  at  Camargo.  In  September,  the  main  body  of  the  army 
having  reached  Camargo,  he  rejoined  his  command  and  marched  to  Monterey. 
On  the  twenty-third  of  September,  1846,  he  was  brevetted  captain  "for  gallant 
conduct  at  the  battle  of  Monterey,"  and  though  still  a  lieutenant  in  actual  rank, 
commanded  company  E  of  his  regiment  till  February  fourteenth  of  the  next  year. 
In  December,  1846,  he  was  placed  in  the  advance  \vith  his  company,  and  entered 
Victoria  about  New- Year's,  1847,  with  Quitman's  brigade.  He  participated  in 
the  bloody  and  decisive  battle  of  Bueiia  Vista,  on  the  twenty-first  of  February, 
and  was  brevetted  major  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  that  battle.  He 
remained  on  duty  in  Mexico  till  August  twentieth,  1848,  his  company  having 
been  among  the  last  to  leave,  as  it  had  been  the  first  to  enter  the  Mexican  terri 
tory.  He  was  next  ordered  to  duty  at  Brazos  Santiago,  and  in  the  following  De 
cember  to  Fort  Adams,  Newport,  R.  I.  In  July,  1849,  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  company  B  of  the  Third  artillery,  and  soon  after  ordered  again  to  Florida, 
where  Indian  troubles  had  again  broken  out.  In  December,  1850,  he  received 
orders  for  Texas,  but  at  New-Orleans  found  later  orders,  assigning  him  to  duty  at 
Fort  Independence,  Boston  harbor.  His  stay  here  was  short,  as  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  March  he  was  assigned  to  the  post  of  Instructor  of  Artillery  and  Cavalry 
at  West-Point.  On  the  thirty -first  of  May,  1854,  Captain  Thomas  (he  had  been 
promoted  to  a  full  captaincy  in  his  regiment  in  the  previous  December)  took  com 
mand  of  a  battalion  of  artillery  and  conducted  it  by  -way  of  Panama  to  California. 
Arriving  at  Benicia  Barracks,  he  was  assigned  to  Fort  Yuma,  in  Lower  California, 
and  arrived  at  that  post  on  the  fifteenth  of  July,  1854.  The  next  year  (July 
eighteenth)  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  in  one  of  the  new  cavalry  regi 
ments  ordered  by  Congress,  and  joined  his  regiment  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo., 
early  in  September.  The  regiment  was  ordered  on  duty  in  Texas,  and  Major 


204  GEORGE      H.      THOMAS. 

Thomas  remained  there  four  and  a  half  years,  being  in  command  of  the  regiment 
for  three  years  of  the  time,  and  commanding  two  or  three  Indian  expeditions,  and 
two  of  geographical  explorations,  one  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Canadian  and  Eed 
Rivers  and  the  other  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Conchas. 

In  April,  1861,  Major  Thomas  was  assigned  to  duty  at  Carlisle  Barracks, 
Pennsylvania,  to  remount  his  regiment,  which  had  been  dismounted  and  ordered 
out  of  Texas  by  General  Twiggs.  Having  performed  this  service,  he  was  ordered 
to  report  for  duty  to  General  Patterson,  then  commanding  the  Department  of 
Pennsylvania,  On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  he  was  promoted  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and  on  the  third  of  May  following  Colonel,  of  the  Fifth  United  States  regular 
cavalry.  From  May  till  August  twenty-sixth,  he  was  Acting  Brigadier-General 
under  General  Patterson  and  General  Banks.  On  the  seventeenth  of  August,  he 
was  .appointed  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  the 
same  month,  ordered  to  report  for  duty  to  General  Robert  Anderson,  commanding 
the  Department  of  Kentucky. 

Arriving  at  Louisville,  September  sixth,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
Camp  Dick  Robinson,  fifteen  miles  south-east  of  Nicholasville,  K}r.  The  rebel 
General  Zollicoffer  had  passed  through  Cumberland  Gap  with  a  considerable  force, 
with  the  intention  of  invading  and  subjugating  Kentucky  to  rebel  rule,  and  Gen 
eral  Thomas  was  determined  to  thwart  his  purposes.  He  accordingly  sent  Briga 
dier-General  Schoepf  thirty  miles  south-east  of  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  to  a  point  in 
the  Rockcastle  Hills,  with  four  regiments  of  infantry  and  a  battalion  of  artillery, 
and  Wolford's  cavalry.  General  Schoepf 's  fortified  position,  which  he  named 
Camp  Wildcat,  was,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  October,  the  scene  of  the  battle  of 
Wildcat,  in  which  Zollicoffer  was  completely  routed  and  driven  back  to  Cumber 
land  Gap  by  General  Schoepf.  Immediately  after  this  battle,  General  Thomas 
removed  his  headquarters  to  Crab  Orchard,  and  began  preparations  for  an  advance 
into  East-Tennessee,  but  the  enemy  having  assembled  a  large  force  in  Bowling 
Green,  he  was  ordered  by  General  Buell,  who  had  just  succeeded  General  W.  T. 
Sherman  as  commander  of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio,  to  move  with  his  force, 
except  three  regiments,  to  Lebanon,  Ky.,  and  be  in  readiness  for  an  active  cam 
paign.  Zollicoffer  was  again  in  the  field  with  a  larger  and  more  efficient  force  ; 
General  Schoepf  was  despatched  to  prevent  him  from  crossing  the  Cumberland,  but 
was  unable  to  accomplish  this,  though  he  kept  him  from  attacking  Somerset,  which 
he  had  threatened.  Zollicoffer  succeeded  in  crossing  the  Cumberland  with  about 
eight  thousand  men,  and  established  himself  on  the  north  side,  opposite  Mill  Spring, 
in  a  strongly  fortified  camp.  General  Thomas  had  made  every  thing  ready  for  a 
movement  on  the  thirtieth  of  December,  1861,  and  left  Lebanon  that  day,  under 
orders  from  General  Buell  to  march  against  Zollicoffer,  and  dislodge  him  from  his 
intrenchments  if  he  could  not  bo  induced  to  come  out  to  fight  the  combined  forces 


GEORGE      H.      THOMAS.  205 

of  Thomas  and  Sclioepf.  The  roads  in  that  portion  of  Kentucky,  always  bad 
enough  in  winter,  were  mucli  worse  than  usual.  The  tenacious  clay  so  loaded 
down  the  teams,  the  cavalry,  the  artillery,  and  the  infantry,  as  to  render  progress 
all  but  impossible.  Three  miles  a  day  was  the  utmost  which  the  teams  could 
accomplish.  By  nineteen  days  of  laborious  marching  over  roads  so  nearly  im 
passable,  General  Thonlas  succeeded  in  reaching  a  point  called  Logan's  Cross-Eoads, 
ten  miles  north  of  Mill  Spring,  with  five  regiments  of  infantry,  Wolford's  Ken 
tucky  cavalry,  Kenny's  battery  of  the  First  Ohio  artillery,  and  four  companies  of 
the  First  Michigan  engineers.  Here  he  halted  to  await  the  arrival  of  two  more  re 
giments  and  to  communicate  with  General  Schoepf  at  Somerset.  The  preliminary 
arrangements  were  made  on  Saturday,  and  the  forward  movement  on  Mill  Spring 
was  to  be  made  on  Monday,  January  twentieth.  But  the  enemy,  believing  that 
Thomas  had  only  two  regiments  at  Logan's  Cross-Eoads,  and  that  the  remainder, 
disheartened  and  discouraged  ~by  the  difficulties  they  had  encountered,  would 
not  come  up,  resolved  to  surprise  and  overwhelm  Thomas  at  Logan's  Cross- 
Eoads,  and  for  this  purpose  left  their  fortified  camp  at 'Mill  Spring  in  the  after 
noon  of  Saturday,  January  eighteenth,  and  at  daylight  the  following  morning- 
commenced  driving  in  the  pickets  of  the  Union  troops.  Two  regiments,  the 
Tenth  Indiana  and  Fourth  Kentucky,  were  quickly  formed,  advanced  into  a  wood 
about  half  a  mile  in  front  of  Logan's,  and  held  their  position  firmly  against  a  des 
perate  assault  of  the  enemy  till  the  Ninth  Ohio  and  Second  Minnesota  came  up, 
and  while  these  regiments  attacked  the  rebels  in  front,  the  Twelfth  Kentucky  and 
First  and  Second  East-Tennessee  (part  of  Schoepf 's  force)  advanced  on  their  right 
and  rear.  After  a  desperate  contest  for  half  an  hour,  the  Ninth  Ohio  charged 
their  right  with  the  bayonet,  and  at  the  same  time  the  Twelfth  Kentucky  assailed 
their  left  with  the  utmost  fury.  The  rebels  could  not  withstand  the  violence  of 
these  assaults,  and  at  first  retreating  slowly,  soon  broke  into  a  complete  and  dis 
orderly  rout.  Supplying  themselves  with  ammunition,  General  Thomas's  forces 
commenced  the  pursuit,  intending  to  storm  their  intrenchments  the  next  morning ; 
but  fear  had  lent  wings  to  the  flight  of  the  fugitives,  and  ere  the  dawn  of  the 
twentieth  they  had  escaped  across  the  Cumberland,  numbers  of  them  being- 
drowned  by  the  sinking  of  the  overladen  boats.  The  survivors  fled  with  fearful 
haste  through  the  deep  mud,  and  still  quaked  with  terror  when  they  had  put 
thirty  miles  between  themselves  and  their  pursuers.  Their  camp,  guns,  equipage, 
supplies,  clothing,  and  every  thing  were  abandoned,  and  the  panic  of  their  flight 
extended  even  into  Middle  Tennessee.  Zollicoffer,  the  rebel  commander,  was 
killed  in  the  battle. 

After  this  battle,  General  Thomas  resumed  his  former  purpose  of  going  to  the 
relief  of  the  loyal  patriots  of  East-Tennessee,  and  had  nearly  accumulated  a  suffi 
cient  amount  of  supplies  for  that  expedition,  when  he  was  again  summoned  to 


206  GEORGE      H.      THOMAS. 

Lebanon  and  thence  to  Munfordsville  by  General  Buell  to  take  part  in  an  assault 
on  Bowling  Green,  then  in  the  enemy's  possession.  Before  the  troops  could  be 
assembled  in  front  of  Bowling  Green,  however,  the  capture  of  Forts  Henry  and 
Donelson  had  compelled  the  enemy  to  evacuate  that  stronghold,  and  Nashville 
also,  and  General  Thomas  received  orders  to  proceed  with  his  division  to  Louis 
ville,  then  to  take  steamers  for  Nashville.  In  the  subsequent  movements  of  the 
army  of  the  Ohio  General  Thomas's  division  constituted  the  reserve  corps,  and  did 
not  reach  the  battle-ground  of  Shiloh  in  season  to  participate  in  the  fight. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  1862,  General  Thomas  was  appointed  and  con 
firmed  Major-General  of  volunteers,  and  on  the  first  of  May  his  division  was  trans 
ferred  to  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  General  Halleck  assigned  him  to  the 
command  of  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  consisting  of  five  divisions.  After  the 
evacuation  of  Corinth  by  the  rebels,  his  division  was  stationed  along  the  Memphis 
and  Charleston  Railroad,  from  luka,  Miss.,  to  Tuscumbia,  Ala,,  for  its  protection. 
On  the  tenth  of  June,  he  was  re-transferred  to  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  and  about 
the  first  of  August  was  ordered  to  concentrate  his  command  at  Dechard,  Tenn. 
From  this  place  he  proceeded  to  McMinnville,  Tenn.,  and  took  charge  of  the  divi 
sions  of  Generals  Nelson  and  Hood.  On  the  third  of  September,  he  received 
orders  from  General  Buell  to  join  him  at  Murfreesboro,  and  subsequently  at  Nash 
ville.  After  remaining  for  a  few  days  in  command  of  Nashville,  he  received 
orders  to  follow,  and  leaving  Nashville  on  the  fifteenth  of  September,  joined  Gen 
eral  Buell's  army  on  the  nineteenth  at  Prewitt's  Knob,  near  Cave  City,  and  was 
made  second  in  command  of  the  army.  On  the  arrival  of  the  army  at  Louisville, 
the  Government  removed  General  Buell  from  the  command  and  offered  it  to  Gen 
eral  Thomas,  but  at  his  solicitation  and  that  of  General  Crittenden,  General  Buell 
was  reinstated.  In  the  battle  of  Perryville,  General  Thomas  being  in  command 
of  the  right  wing,  had  but  a  small  share  of  the  battle,  of  which  the  left  wing  sus 
tained  the  principal  brunt:  After  General  Rosecrans  assumed  the  command  of  the 
army  of  the  Ohio,  or,  as  it  was  now  designated  again,  the  army  of  the  Cumberland, 
General  Thomas  was  placed  in  command  of  the  centre,  the  Fourteenth  army  corps, 
and  was  still  second  in  command  in  the  army.  He  remained  in  Nashville  till  the 
twenty-sixth  of  December,  when  the  army  moved  forward  toward  Murfreesboro, 
and  the  terrible  battle  .of  Stone  River  followed.  During  those  eventful  days  he 
commanded  the  centre,  comprising  the  divisions  of  Rousseau  and  Negley,  and  to 
his  judicious  movements,  his  firmness,  promptness,  and  unflinching  bravery  was 
due  no  small  portion  of  the  success  which  finally  crowned  our  arms  in  that  pro 
tracted  and  fearful  struggle. 

After  this  battle  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  materially  reenforced,  was  or 
ganized  into  three  army  corps,  the  Fourteenth,  Twentieth,  and  Twenty-first,  con 
sisting  of  five  divisions,  Rousseau's,  Negley's,  Reynolds's,  Fry's,  and  R.  B. 


GEORGE      H.      THOMAS.  207 

Mitchell's,  and  commanded  by  Major-General  Thomas.  In  the  forward  move 
ments  of  the  summer  of  1863,  the  advance  upon  Tullahoma  and  afterward  upon 
Chattanooga,  General  Thomas  bore  a  conspicuous  part. 

The  occupation  of  Chattanooga  by  his  corps,  and  its  connection  with  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  deserve  perhaps  a  little  explanation.  When  General  Bose- 
crans  followed  Bragg's  retreating  army  from  Tullahoma,  he  had  before  him  two 
alternatives,  a  direct  attack  on  Chattanooga  by  the  narrow  defile  along  the  rail 
road  and  the  bank  of  the  Tennessee  Bivgr,  which  could  hardly  have  failed  of  dis 
aster,  or  the  crossing  of  Lookout  Mountain  by  passes  twenty  and  forty  miles  below, 
which  would  effectually  flank  the  stronghold  and  compel  its  evacuation.  He 
chose  the  latter,  of  course,  and  Thomas's  corps  was  left  in  a  position  where,  upon 
the  evacuation  of  the  town  by  the  rebels,  it  could  slip  in  by  the  railroad  defile, 
while  the  other  two  corps  crossed  at  the  passes  already  named.  The  appearance 
of  Crittenden's  corps  in  the  plain  below  Chattanooga  was  the  signal  for  the  evacu 
ation  of  that  place  by  Bragg's  army,  and  General  Thomas  immediately  moved 
forward  and  occupied  the  town.  It  was  in  the  attempt  to  move  Crittenden's  and 
McCook's  corps  toward  Chattanooga  to  unite  with  Thomas  that  the  sanguinary 
battle  of  Chickamauga  was  fought,  and  the  blunder  of  McCook  in  retracing 
his  steps  and  going  back  to  the  same  pass  which  Crittenden  had  crossed  con 
tributed  to  the  disaster  of  that  battle.  In  this  emergency,  Thomas,  coming  out  of 
Chattanooga  and  falling  upon  Bragg's  rear,  retrieved  the  fortunes  of  the  battle 
when  apparently  wholly  lost.  To  his  decisive  energy  and  indomitable  bravery  it 
is  due  that  the  partial  defeat  of  the  nineteenth  of  September  was  changed  into  at 
least  a  partial  victory  on  the  twentieth,  and  that  while  two  of  the  army  corps  were 
defeated,  the  third  was  triumphant.  Amid  the  tragedy  of  errors  which  made  that 
battle  disastrous,  though  the  campaign  as  a  whole  was  successful,  there  were  no 
blunders  to  be  laid  to  the  account  of  Major- General  Thomas.  Throughout  the 
whole  fight  he  moved  among  his  men,  conspicuous  for  his  calm  self-possession 
and  his  clear  and  seemingly  intuitive  knowledge  of  what  was  to  be  done  at  any 
given  moment.  It  was  in  consequence  of  their  appreciation  of  these  qualities  in 
him  as  a  commander  that  the  Government,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  October,  gave 
him  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland. 

In  person,  General  Thomas  is  of  large  frame,  fully  six  feet  high  and  well-pro 
portioned,  with  keen  blue  eyes,  and  massive  but  agreeable  features,  of  a  sanguineo- 
lymphatic  temperament,  and  a  dignified  though  quiet  deportment.  He  is  a  close 
observer,  a  sound  reasoner,  and  possesses  much  of  that  patient,  persevering  per 
sistency  of  purpose  which  characterizes  General  Grant.  He  is  greatly  beloved  by 
his  soldiers,  who  affectionately  call  him  "  Pap "  Thomas.  His  motions,  except 
when  roused  to  energy  by  a  great  occasion,  are  deliberate,  and  his  escort,  who 
wearied  sometimes  of  his  frequent  admonition,  "slow  trot,"  named  him  "Old 


208  GEORGE      H.      THOMAS. 

Slow  Trot."  In  action,  however,  all  this  is  changed;  the  man,  though  never  vio 
lent  and  impulsive,  shows  an  energy  of  action  and  rapid  powers  of  combination 
which  indicate  that  there  is  no  slowness  in  the  movements  of  that  large  and  capa 
cious  brain.  He  is  modest,  and  never  given  to  display  of  his  rank  or  position. 
His  colonel's  shoulder-straps  were  worn  long  after  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general,  and  the  single  star  gleamed  on  his  shoulders  months  after  he 
had  attained  the  rank  of  major-general. 


CADWALADEE     O. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  CADWALADER  GOLDEN  WASHBURN,  one  of 
the  participators  in  the  capture  of  Vicksburgh,  and  who  commanded  the 
troops  of  the  Sixteenth  army  corps  during  that  memorable  siege,  is  a  native  of 
Livermore,  Oxford  (now  Androscoggin)  County,  Maine,  and  was  born  in  the  year 
1820.  He  is  the  son  of  Israel  Washburn,  Esq.,  who  is  still  living,  and  is  one 
of  a  family  of  seven  sons,  nearly  all  of  whom  have  become  more  or  less  dis 
tinguished  in  public  life.  He  is  the  brother  of  Israel  Washburn,  Jr.,  ex-Gov 
ernor  of  Maine,  and  for  ten  years  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  that  State  ; 
of  E.  B.  Washburn,  Member  of  Congress  from  Illinois  for  the  last  twelve  years  ; 
of  Charles  A.  Washburn,  United  States  Minister  Resident  at  Paraguay  ;  of  Wil 
liam  D.  Washburn,  Surveyor-General  of  Minnesota;  and  of  Samuel  B.  Wash- 
burn,  a  lieutenant  in  the  navy.  In  1839,  and  before  he  was  of  age,  he  emigrated 
to  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  commenced  teaching  school  at  Rock  Island,  in  that 
State,  and  at  the  same  time  studying  law  with  Joseph  B.  Wells,  Esq.,  afterward 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Illinois.  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of  1842,  he 
removed  to  Mineral  Point,  Wisconsin,  in  the  lead-mining  district,  where  he  com 
menced  the  practice  of  his  profession.  With  a  fine  legal  mind,  great  industry  and 
energy,  and  unquestioned  integrity,  he  at  once  entered  upon  a  successful  business 
career.  In  the  summer  of  1854,  without  ever  having  been  in  public  life,  he  was 
brought  forward  as  the  Whig  and  Anti-Nebraska  candidate  for  Congress,  in  the 
Second  District  of  Wisconsin,  to  succeed  the  late  Hon.  Ben.  C.  Eastman,  and 
was  triumphantly  elected.  He  was  reflected  in  1856,  and  again  in  1858.  During 
the  entire  six  years  he  was  in  Congress,  he  was  associated  with  his  two  brothers, 
Israel  Washburn,  Jr.,  of  Maine,  and  E.  B.  Washburn,  of  Illinois,  a  remarkable 
and  unprecedented  coincidence  of  three  brothers  representing  three  different  States 
at  the  same  time.  In  1860,  the  demands  of  his  private  business  compelled  him 
to  decline  a  reelection.  In  the  fall  of  1861,  he  was  commissioned  as  Colonel  by 
Governor  Randall,  of  Wisconsin,  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry.  Sacrificing  im 
mense  business  interests,  (for  he  is  believed  to  be  the  largest  individual  land 
holder  in  Wisconsin,)  he  at  once  entered  the  military  service,  and  soon  brought 
into  the  field  the  Second  regiment  of  Wisconsin  cavalry.  In  the  winter  of  1862, 
he  was  ordered  to  Missouri,  and  he  accompanied  the  expedition  into  South-West- 
ern  Missouri,  and  through  the  Ozark  Mountains,  and  was  in  the  advance  of  that 


210  CADWALADER      C.      WASHBURN. 

celebrated  march,  of  Curtis's  army  through  Arkansas,  his  command  being  the  first 
to  enter  and  seize  Ilelena,  an  important  strategic  point  on  the  Mississippi  River. 
About  this  time  he  was  promoted  from  a  Colonel  of  cavalry  to  a  Brigadier-Gene 
ral,  and  was  made  post  commander  at  Helena.  In  the  winter  of  1862-3,  in  aid 
of  General  Grant's  army,  he  made  a  most  successful  and  daring  cavalry  raid  from 
Helena  into  Mississippi,  dispersing  a  largely  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  cutting 
the  railroads  from  Memphis  to  Grenada,  and  capturing  large  military  supplies. 
He  was  highly  complimented  for  this  service  in  a  general  order  issued  by  his 
superior  officer,  Brigadier-General  Alvin  P.  Ilovey,  of  Indiana.  In  March,  1863, 
he  was  appointed  and  confirmed  a  Major-General.  The  military  forces  at  Helena 
having  been  assigned  to  General  Grant's  department,  that  distinguished  officer 
intrusted  Major-General  Washburn  with  the  important  duty  of  opening  the 
Yazoo  Pass,  through  which  he  hoped  to  attain  access  with  his  army  into  the  rear 
of  Vicksburgh,  by  way  of  the  Yazoo  River.  This  was  a  work  of  appalling  labor. 
A  crooked,  sluggish  stream,  filled  by  every  conceivable  obstruction,  such  as 
fallen  timber  and  immense  trees,  piled  one  upon  another,  for  miles  and  miles,  the 
rebels  considered  it  simply  an  impossibility  for  it  to  be  cleared  out  so  as  to  admit 
of  the  passage  of  steamboats.  But  in  that  they  were  mistaken.  General  Wash- 
burn  brought  to  the  task  an  iron  will  and  almost  superhuman  resolution.  Labor 
ing  night  and  day,  and  using  the  axe  himself  like  a  common  soldier,  the  work 
progressed  before  the  unrelenting  energy  of  his  brave  troops.  His  duty  was 
accomplished,  and  he  received  the  highest  commendation  from  General  Grant 
He  had  the  pleasure  of  taking,  steamboats  loaded  with  troops  through  a  pass 
where  the  enemy  did  not  suppose  it  would  be  possible  to  take  even  a  canoe.  The 
expedition  destined  for  the  Yazoo  River  and  the  rear  of  Vicksburgh  did  not  fail 
through  inability  to  get  through  the  Pass,  but  from  inability  to  overcome  the  ene 
my's  batteries  at  Greenwood. 

Having  successfully  accomplished  the  work  assigned  to  him  of  opening  the 
Yazoo  Pass,  General  Grant  ordered  General  Washburn  from  Helena  to  Memphis, 
to  take  command  of  the  cavalry  of  the  Department  of  the  Tennessee.  From 
Memphis  he  was  ordered  to  Vicksburgh,  to  take  command  of  the  troops  of  the 
Sixteenth  army  corps.  He  was  assigned  to  the  extreme  right  of  our  position  to 
hold  Snyder's  Bluff,  which  was  the  key  to  the  defence  against  any  attack  of  Joe 
Johnston. 

After  the  capture  of  Vicksburgh,  Major-General  Washburn  was  ordered  to 
New-Orleans,  in  command  of  a  detachment  of  the  Thirteenth  army  corps.  From 
there  he  was  ordered  to  South-Western  Louisiana  with  his  command.  At  the 
time  the  rebels  made  their  attack  upon  Burbridge's  brigade,  at  Bayou  Couteau, 
General  Washburn  occupied  the  position  to  which  he  had  been  assigned  three 
miles  off.  At  the  sound  of  the  first  gun  he  instantly  led  forward  his  entire  com- 


CADWALADER      C.      W  A  S  II  B  U  R  N  .  211 

mand  to  the  relief  of  Burbridge,  who  had  held  the  enemy  at  bay  by  the  most  des 
perate  fighting.  Attacking  with  great  vigor,  General  Washburn  soon  routed  the 
enemy,  who  had  double  his  force,  and  drove  him  discomfited  from  the  field.  In 
December,  1863,  he  was  ordered  from  Louisiana  to  Texas  with  his  command,  and 
at  the  gate  of  Matagorda  Bay  he  captured  Fort  Esperanza,  a  strong  rebel  work, 
with  all  its  guns,  ammunition,  etc.  In  April,  1864,  Major-General  Hurlburt  hav 
ing  been  removed  from  the  command  of  the  Department  of  West-Tennessee,  Lieu- 
tenant-General  Grant  ordered  General  Washburn  to  that  important  command, 
with  headquarters  at  Memphis.  His  administration  has  been  characterized  by 
great  vigor  and  ability. 

General  Washburn  is  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  forty-three  years  of  age. 
His  home  is  at  La  Crosse,  Wisconsin,  on  the  Mississippi  Elver.  As  a  man  of 
probity  and  honor,  a  public-spirited  and  patriotic  citizen,  he  is  universally  es 
teemed  ;  as  a  politician  and  a  statesman,  he  has  enjoyed  the  public  confidence  to  a 
remarkable  extent ;  as  a  soldier,  he  has  shown  sound  military  judgment,  unsur 
passed  energy,  undaunted  courage,  and  the  most  lofty  devotion  to  the  cause  of  hi? 
country. 


WIlsTFIELD    SCOTT   HANCOCK. 

W INFIELD  SCOTT  HANCOCK  was  born  at  Montgomery  Square,  in 
Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania,  February  fourteenth,  1824.  By  the 
mother's  side  he  comes  of  a  good  fighting  stock,  his  maternal  great  grandfather 
having  served  under  General  Washington,  while  his  grandfather  was  a  soldier 
both  during  the  Revolution  and  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  father,  Benjamin  F. 
Hancock,  is  a  lawyer  of  Norristown,  Pennsylvania. 

Young  Hancock  entered  the  United  States  Military  Academy  in  1840,  and 
was  graduated  in  1844.  Like  many  of  those  officers  who  have  most  distinguished 
themselves  within  the  last  two  or  three  years,  he  appears  to  have  given  but  slight 
promise  of  future  eminence,  for  he  stood  eighteenth  in  a  class  of  twenty-five. 

Assigned  to  the  Sixth  infantry  as  brevet  Second  Lieutenant,  his  first  service 
was  in  the  Indian  Territory,  on  the  banks  of  the  Red  River,  and  for  some  time 
he  was  stationed  at  Fort  Washita,  then  the  westernmost  of  our  military  posts. 
When  the  Mexican  war  broke  out,  he  became  Adjutant  to  Colonel  (the  late  rebel 
General)  Bonham,  in  Franklin  Pierce's  brigade,  and  on  the  march  to  Puebla  had 
several  opportunities,  at  the  National  Bridge  and  other  points,  of  showing  that  he 
was  made  of  better  stuff  than  his  West-Point  record  seemed  to  indicate.  Arrived 
at  Puebla,  he  joined  his  regiment,  in  which  he  had  now  obtained  the  full  rank  of 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  under  the  command  of  General  Worth  began  his  route 
toward  the  capital. 

At  the  battle  of  Churubusco  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of  his  company 
early  in  the  action,  and  according  to  the  official  reports  "behaved  in  the  hand 
somest  manner;"  for  which,  coupled  with  his  gallant  conduct  at  Contreras,  he 
received  the  next  year  the  brevet  of  First  Lieutenant.  He  was  present  at  the  battle 
of  Molino  del  Rey  and  the  taking  of  the  City  of  Mexico ;  served  for  some  time 
under  Brigadier-General  Cadwalader  at  Toluca ;  was  appointed  Regimental  Quar 
termaster  in  June,  1848 ;  and  remained  in  the  field  until  Mexico  was  formally  sur 
rendered  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  then  ordered  to  the  Upper  Mississippi. 
From  1849  to  1855,  he  was  stationed  in  Missouri,  as  adjutant  of  his  regiment, 
during  which  time  he  married  Miss  Russell  of  St.  Louis,  in  1850,  and  was  pro 
moted  to  the  full  rank  of  First  Lieutenant  in  1853.  In  November,  1855,  he  was 
appointed  Assistant  Quartermaster  with  the  rank  of  Captain,  and  attached  to  the 
Seminole  expedition.  For  two  years  he  saw  active  service  in  Florida,  against  the 


BRIG.-GF.N.W.  S.  HANCOCK. 


WIN  FIELD      SCOTT      HANCOCK.  213 

Indians,  holding  a  position  on  the  staff  of  each  of  our  successive  commanders  in 
that  campaign — General  Harney,  Major  (now  General)  Harvey  Brown,  and  Colo 
nel  Monroe ;  and  so  acceptably  were  the  difficult  duties  of  his  office  performed, 
that  when  General  Harney  was  ordered  to  Kansas  to  make  preparations  for  the 
Utah  campaign,  he  requested  that  Captain  Hancock  might  be  detailed  to  assist 
him.  The  troops  passed  the  winter  in  Kansas,  and  were  on  their  march  to  Utah 
in  the  spring,  when  intelligence  reached  them  that  the  expedition  had  been  aban 
doned.  Captain  Hancock  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Fort  Bridger,  and  accom 
pany  the  Sixth  infantry,  as  principal  Quartermaster,  across  the  plains  to  Benicia — 
the  longest  continuous  march  of  troops  on  record.  For  the  skilful  management 
of  his  department  on  this  toilsome  and  dangerous  expedition,  our  young  Quarter 
master  received  great  credit. 

The  next  two  or  three  years  saw  Captain  Hancock  at  Los  Angelos,  in  South 
ern  California,  employed  in  supplying,  by  means  of  land  transportation,  some  of 
the  more  remote  military  posts  on  the  Colorado  Kiver.  He  was  still  on  this  duty 
when  the  rebellion  broke  out  in  1861.  He  had  done  much  to  encourage  and 
strengthen  the  few  loyal  men  of  that  part  of  the  State,  and  to  baffle  the  plans  of 
the  secessionists  who  were  organizing  and  arming  to  take  California  forcibly  out 
of  the  Union.  The  moment  the  war  had  actually  begun,  he  offered  his  services 
to  his  native  State,  but  receiving  no  answer,  he  applied  to  the  War  Department 
to  be  ordered  East,  and  was  immediately  appointed  Chief  Quartermaster  to  Gene 
ral  Anderson  in  Kentucky.  Before  he  could  report  for  duty,  however,  he  was 
recommended  by  General  McClellan  for  a  higher  position,  and  received,  Septem 
ber  twenty-third,  1861,  a  commission  as  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers,  with  a 
command,  consisting  of  the  Fifth  Wisconsin,  Sixth  Maine,  Forty -ninth  Pennsyl 
vania,  and  Forty-third  New- York  regiments,  in  General  W.  F.  Smith's  division  of 
the  army  of  the  Potomac.  All  through  the  winter  his  men  were  encamped  on 
the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac,  near  the  Chain  Bridge,  and  so  carefully  were 
they  drilled,  and  disciplined,  and  exercised  in  reconnoissances  and  other  minor 
operations,  that  they  have  ever  since  kept  up  their  reputation,  through  changes 
of  men  and  changes  of  commanders,  as  one  of  the  best  brigades  in  the  service. 

On  the  organization  of  the  army  corps,  General  Smith's  division  made  part 
of  the  Fourth  corps,  General  Keyes.  During  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  Hancock's 
brigade  was  actively  employed,  and  with  Brooks's  Vermont  brigade,  of  the  same 
division,  fought  the  battle  of  Lee's  Mills,  April  sixteenth,  1862. 

During  the  battle  of  Williamsburgh,  General  Smith  received  orders  to  send 
one  brigade  across  a  dam  on  our  right,  to  occupy  a  redoubt  on  the  left  of  the 
enemy's  line.  Hancock's  command  was  selected  for  this  purpose.  He  took  pos 
session  of  the  first  redoubt,  and  afterward  of  a  second,  and  sent  for  reinforcements 
to  enable  him  to  advance  further,  and  take  a  third,  the  possession  of  which  would 


214  WIN  FIELD      SCOTT      HANCOCK. 

have  given  him  a  decisive  advantage  over  a  force  of  the  enemy  then  hotly  en 
gaged  with  Kearny  and  Hooker.  General  Sumner,  however,  who  commanded 
in  General  McClellan's  absence,  felt  unable  to  spare  more  troops,  and  in  reply  to 
Hancock's  repeated  messages,  sent  him  an  order  to  fall  back  -to  his  first  position. 
The  execution  of  this  order  General  Hancock  deferred  as  long  as  possible,  and  in 
the  mean  time  General  McClellan  arrived  and  immediately  sent  him  reenforce- 
inents.  Before  they  could  reach  him,  however,  he  had  been  confronted  by  a 
superior  force.  "  Feigning  to  retreat  slowly,  he  awaited  their  onset,  and  then 
turned  upon  them,  and  after  some  terrific  volleys  of  musketry,  he  charged  them 
with  the  bayonet,  routing  and  dispersing  their  whole  force,  killing,  wounding, 
and  capturing  from  five  hundred  to  six  hundred  men,  he  himself  losing  only 
thirty- one  men.  This  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  engagements  of  the  war,  and 
General  Hancock  merits  the  highest  praise  for  the  soldierly  qualities  displayed, 
and  his  perfect  appreciation  of  the  vital  importance  of  his  position."  {McClelland 
Official  Report.} 

This  affair  decided  the  battle.  The  rebels  retreated  during  the  night.  On 
the  following  day,  General  McClellan  came  to  Hancock's  camp,  and  addressed 
each  of  the  regiments  engaged.  "Soldiers,"  said  he,  "your  comrades  fought 
bravely  and  well,  but  to  you  your  country  owes  its  gratitude  for  having  fought 
and  won  this  battle.  Williamsburgh  shall  be  inscribed  on  your  colors." 

Soon  after  this,  the  whole  of  Smith's  division  was  transferred  to  the  Sixth 
corps,  newly  organized  under  the  command  of  General  Franklin.  Hancock  par 
ticipated  in  nearly  all  the  great  battles  of  the  ensuing  campaign,  everywhere 
arousing  the  admiration  of  the  officers  and  men  by  his  personal  gallantry  and  his 
impetuosity  in  attack.  In  every  engagement  he  justified  the  praise  which  Gene 
ral  McClellan  had  already  bestowed  upon  him,  when  he  described  his  conduct  as 
"splendid,"  and  "brilliant  in  the  extreme." 

The  Sixth  corps  had  not  an  active  part  in  General  Pope's  Virginia  campaign, 
but  it  had  the  honor  of  opening  the  ball  in  Maryland  by  the  attacks  on  Sugar 
Loaf  Mountain  and  Crampton's  Pass,  in  the  former  of  which  Hancock  was 
selected  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  the  heights.  In  the  subsequent  battle  of 
Antietam,  September  seventeenth,  Hancock  was  promoted  by  General  McClellan, 
during  the  action,  to  the  command  of  the  first  division  of  the  Second  (Sumner's) 
corps,  in  place  of  General  Eichardson,  who  was  mortally  wounded.  He  led  this 
division  in  the  assault  upon  Fredericksburgh,  December  thirteenth,  where  he  lost 
nearly  half  his  men,  and  commanded  it  again  at  Chancellorsville.  In  the  mean 
time  he  had  been  commissioned  Major-General  of  volunteers,  November  twenty- 
ninth,  1862.  On  the  tenth  of  June,  1863,  he  relieved  General  Couch  in  com 
mand  of  the  Second  corps,  and  was  soon  afterward  assigned  by  the  President  to 
the  permanent  command  of  that  corps.  In  the  battle  of  Gettysburg!!,  General 


WIN  FIELD      SCOTT      HANCOCK.  215 

Meade  placed  the  First,  Third,  and  Eleventh  corps  under  his  orders,  and  gave 
him  command  of  the  left  centre  of  the  line,  where  Longstreet's  grand  assault  was 
80  terribly  repulsed  on  the  third  of  July.  Towards  the  close  of  the  day,  General 
Hancock  was  severely  wounded  in  the  thigh  by  a  musket-ball,  but  he  refused  to 
be  taken  to  the  rear,  and,  stretched  on  the  ground  beneath  a  tree,  continued  to 
direct  the  operations  of  his  command.  After  his  recovery,  he  employed  the  long 
period  of  military  inactivity  which  followed,  in  visiting  different  parts  of  the 
Northern  States  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  his  corps  to  fifty  thousand  men 
He  met  with  great  success,  and  was  everywhere  received  with  enthusiasm,  and  it 
was  not  difficult  to  obtain  recruits  for  a  corps  which,  up  to  that  time,  had  cap 
tured  over  forty  flags  and  lost  over  twenty -five  thousand  men,  but  had  never  lost 
a  color  or  a  gun. 

General  Hancock  retained  his  command  on  the  reorganization  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac  in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness  and 
the  subsequent  operations  of  Grant's  campaign,  fought  with  even  more  than  his 
accustomed  gallantry.  At  Spottsylvania  Court-House  especially,  on  the  twelfth 
of  May,  he  performed  an  exploit  the  fame  of  which  resounded  through  the  coun 
try.  Assaulting  the  rebel  breastworks  at  daylight,  he  entered  them  at  a  salient, 
without  firing  a  shot,  forced  an  inner  line  of  intrenchments,  captured  several 
thousand  prisoners,  including  a  whole  division  and  two  generals,  brought  away 
thirty  or  forty  cannon,  and  held  his  position  all  day  against  five  desperate  at 
tempts  of  the  rebels  to  retake  it. 


HENEY   WAGEE   HALLECK. 

AN  ancestry  good,  honest,  and  reputable,  removed  alike  from  the  dazzling 
heights  of  a  public  career,  with  its  jealousies,  hostilities,  and  temptations, 
and  from  the  ignominy  of  a  low  and  obscure  birth,  may  justly  be  accounted  a 
fortunate  circumstance  in  any  man's  lineage.  This  good  fortune  General  Hal- 
leek  enjoys. 

The  Hallecks  claim  as  their  ancestor  Peter  Halleck,  of  Southold,  Suffolk 
county,  Long  Island,  a  descendant  of  the  lords  of  Alnwick  Castle,  which  Fitz- 
Greene  Halleck,  a  relative  of  the  general,  has  so  finely  described.  The  name  in 
England  was  originally  Hallyoak,  and  is  now  written  there  Halliock,  Hallock, 
and  Halleck.  In  this  country  the  Hallocks  and  Hallecks  both  trace  their  lineage 
to  the  same  ancestor.  Honorable  Joseph  Halleck,  the  general's  father,  settled  in 
the  early  part  of  the  present  century  in  Western,  a  small  town  on  the  Mohawk 
Eiver,  in  Oneida  county,  a  few  miles  west  of  Utica,  where  he  married  Miss  Wa 
ger,  the  daughter  of  Henry  Wager,  a  German,  the  near  neighbor  and  personal 
friend  of  Baron  Steuben,  who,  still  hale  and  hearty,  though  one  hundred  years 
old,  has  lived  to  see  his  grandson  commander-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  the  United 
States. 

In  this  little  town  of  Western,  HENRY  WAGER  HALLECK  was  born  in  1816. 
We  have  been  able  to  learn  but  little  of  his  early  childhood.  He  is  represented, 
by  those  who  recollect  him,  as  a  studious,  manly  boy,  with  a  decided  predilection 
for  mathematical  studies.  When  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  left  home, 
and,  after  consulting  an  uncle,  then  resident  at  Syracuse,  went  to  Hudson,  and 
commenced  a  course  of  preparation  for  college  at  the  Hudson  Academy,  entering 
his  name  as  Henry  Wager.  The  cause  of  his  dropping  his  last  name  is  uncer 
tain.  After  spending  nearly  three  years  in  the  academy  at  Hudson,  where  he 
acquitted  himself  with  honor  and  reputation  as  a  student,  he  entered  Union  Col 
lege  in  1834 ;  and  the  following  year,  receiving  through  his  uncle's  influence  a 
cadet  appointment  at  West  Point,  joined  his  class  there,  resuming  his  full  name. 
He  was  somewhat  older  than  most  of  the  cadets  of  his  class,  having  attained  his 
nineteenth  year  when  he  received  his  appointment 

It  is  sufficient  evidence  of  his  diligence  and  ability,  that  in  the  class  of  1839, 
consisting  of  thirty-one  members,  and  in  many  respects  one  of  the  most  remark- 


;     br  AJLRitdne 


M.VI  r,K\  HENRY  WAGER  HALI.H'K 


HENRY  WAGER  HALLECK.  217 

able  classes  which,  have  graduated  at  the  academy,  young  Halleck  held  the  third 
rank.  Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  was  appointed  second-lieutenant  of 
engineers,  without  any  delay  of  brevet  rank.  In  1840,  he  was  assistant  professor 
of  engineering  at  the  academy,  and  in  1841  became  assistant  to  the  chief-engineer, 
General  Totten,  at  "Washington.  Soon  after,  he  was  assigned  to  the  charge  of 
the  construction  of  the  fortifications  of  New  York  harbor,  in  which  employment 
he  continued  till  1844.  In  1841,  his  "  Papers  on  Practical  Engineering,  No.  1," 
were  published  by  the  engineer  department ;  and  the  same  year  he  prepared  a 
"  Practical  Tteatise  on  Bitumen  and  its  Uses."  In  1843,  Union  College  conferred 
on  him  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  In  1844,  Congress  published  his  "  Report 
on  Military  Defences." 

In  January,  1845,  he  was  promoted  to  a  first-lieutenancy,  during  his  absence 
from  the  country ;  having  obtained  a  furlough  and  sailed  for  Europe  in  the  au 
tumn  of  1844,  to  observe  what  progress  European  nations  had  made  in  military 
science.  Through  the  friendship  of  Marshal  Bertrand,  he  was  introduced  to 
Marshal  Soult,  then  war  minister  of  Louis  Philippe,  and  received  from  him  full 
authority  to  examine  every  thing  of  a  military  character  in  France.  His  inves 
tigations  were  extended  to  several  other  of  the  continental  powers.  Returning 
to  this  country  in  the  summer  of  1845,  he  was  requested  by  the  committee  of  the 
Lowell  Institute,  Boston,  to  deliver  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  subject  of  "  Mili 
tary  Science  and  Art."  These  lectures,  which  give  evidence  of  high  scientific 
and  literary  ability,  were  published  in  1846,  the  author  having  prefixed  an  elabo 
rate  introduction  on  the  "  Justifiableness  of  "War." 

The  commencement  of  the  Mexican  War  recalled  Lieutenant  Halleck  to  his 
professional  duties.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Palo  Alto,  and  immediately 
after  that  action  was  sent  to  California  and  the  Pacific  coast,  where  he  served 
during  the  war  in  both  a  military  and  civil  capacity.  He  was  in  the  engagements 
of  Palos  Prietas,  Urias,  San  Antonio,  and  Todos  Santos.  At  San  Antonio  he 
marched,  with  about  thirty  mounted  volunteers,  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles 
in  twenty-eight  hours,  surprised  the  enemy's  garrison  of  several  hundred  men, 
rescued  two  naval  officers  and  several  marines  who  were  prisoners-of-war,  and 
captured  the  enemy's  flag,  two  Mexican  officers,  and  the  governor's  archives,  the 
governor  himself  barely  escaping  in  his  night-clothes.  At  Todos  Santos  he  led 
into  action  the  main  body  of  Colonel  Burton's  forces.  When  Commodore  Shu- 
brick  attacked  Mazatlan,  Halleck  acted  as  his  aid,  and  afterward  as  chief  of  staff 
and  lieutenant-governor  of  the  city.  While  engaged  in  these  duties,  he  planned 
and  directed  the  construction  of  the  fortifications  at  that  place.  For  his  services 
on  those  occasions  he  was  breveted  captain. 

In  1847-'8-'9,  under  the  military  governments  of  General  Kearney  and 
Governors  Mason  and  Riley,  Captain  Halleck  was  secretary  of  state  in  California. 


213  HENRY  WAGER  HALLECK. 

When  the  convention  met  in  1849,  to  form  a  constitution  for  the  future  state  of 
California,  he  was  one  of  the  leading  members  of  that  body  and  of  the  drafting- 
committee,  and  the  constitution  was  almost  entirely  his  work.  It  was  at  his 
suggestion  also  that  a  convention  was  called,  to  relieve  Congress  and  General 
Taylor's  administration  from  the  difficulties  in  which  they  were  involved  by  the 
Free-Soil  and  Pro-Slavery  parties  of  1849.  From  1847  to  1850,  Captain  Halleck 
also  directed  and  superintended  the  entire  collection  of  the  public  revenues  in 
California,  amounting  to  several  millions  of  dollars,  and  examined  and  audited 
all  the  accounts  before  they  were  forwarded  to  Washington.  The  Importers  de 
nied  the  legality  of  these  collections,  and  the  secretary  of  the  treasury,  Honorable 
Robert  J.  Walker,  doubted  their  authority;  but  Captain  Halleck  was  subse 
quently  sustained,  in  his  interpretation  of  the  law,'  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States. 

From  1850  to  1854,  Captain  Halleck  served  in  California  as  judge-advocate, 
a  member  of  the  Pacific  board  of  engineers,  and  inspector  of  lighthouses.  In 
July,  1858,  he  received  his  commission  as  captain  of  engineers.  In  August, 
1854,  he  resigned  his  commission,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law,  for  the 
study  of  which  he  had  managed  to  find  time  during  his  singularly  busy  career 
as  a  soldier ;  and  the  same  year  he  published  a  carefully-compiled  translation  of 
"  The  Mining-Laws  of  Spain  and  Mexico."  His  legal  abilities  soon  brought  him 
an  extensive  and  lucrative  practice ;  and,  as  the  senior  partner  of  the  great  law- 
firm  of  Halleck,  Peachy,  and  Billings,  in  San  Francisco,  he  was  rapidly  accumu 
lating  a  large  fortune,  to  which  his  position  of  director-general  of  the  New  Alma- 
den  quicksilver-mines  also  contribxited.  In  1860,  he  published  a  translation  of 
"  De  Foz  on  the  Law  of  Mines ;"  and  in  December  of  that  year  accepted  the  ap 
pointment  of  major-general  of  militia,  and  reorganized  the  militia  of  California. 
Early  in  1861,  he  was  offered  by  the  governor  a  seat  in  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state,  but  declined  the  honor. 

In  the  spring  of  1861,  he  published  an  elaborate  work,  on  which  he  had 
long  been  engaged,  entitled  "  International  Law  and  the  Laws  of  War,"  which 
has  received  from  competent  critics  the  highest  commendation. 

Qualities  and  abilities  such  as  those  of  General  Halleck  were  too  rare  in  the 
army  of  the  United  States — are,  indeed,  too  rare  in  the  army  of  any  country — • 
for  the  nation  to  spare  him  from  its  service  in  its  hour  of  trial ;  and  in  August, 
1861,  the  President,  at  the  suggestion  of  Licutenant-General  Scott,  nominated 
him  as  major-general  in  the  regular  army.  He  accepted,  and  his  commission 
bore  date  August  17th,  1861.  Arranging  his  business  as  rapidly  as  possible,  he 
left  California  about  the  first  of  October,  and  arrived  in  New  York  the  latter 
part  of  the  same  month.  After  an  interview  with  the  President  and  General 
Scott  (who  had  determined  to  retire  from  the  active  command  of  the  army),  he 


HENRY  WAGER  HALLECK.  219 

was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  "Western  department,  and  on  the  llth  of 
November  relieved  General  Hunter,  at  St.  Louis,  who  had  temporarily  succeeded 
General  Fremont. 

General  Halleck's  energy  and  great  executive  ability  were  soon  felt  in  every 
department  of  the  vast  army  which  rapidly  gathered  at  the  "West.  Contractors 
were  looked  after;  bridge-burners  and  marauders  promptly  and  severely  pun 
ished  ;  levies  made  on  the  property  of  wealthy  secessionists,  for  the  support  of 
the  families  of  Unionists  whom  they  or  their  friends  had  plundered;  troops 
raised,  equipped,  drilled,  and  sent  off  to  the  different  points  where  they  were 
required,  in  large  numbers ;  and  the  people  led  to  feel  that  they  had  at  the  head 
of  affairs  a  general  who  fully  understood  the  wants  of  his  department,  and  had 
the  capacity  to  supply  them. 

On  the  20th  of  November,   1861,   General  Halleck  issued  the  following 

order : 

"HEAD-QUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  MISSOURI,  ST.  Louis,  November  10th,  1861. 

"GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  3.- — 1.  It  has  been  represented  that  important 
information  respecting  the  numbers  and  condition  of  our  forces  is  conveyed  to 
the  enemy  by  means  of  fugitive  slaves  who  are  admitted  within  our  lines.  In 
order  to  remedy  this  evil,  it  is  directed  that  no  such  persons  be  hereafter  per 
mitted  to  enter  the  lines  of  any  camp,  or  of  any  forces  on  the  march,  and  that 
any  within  such  lines  be  immediately  excluded  therefrom. 

"  2.  The  general  commanding  wishes  to  impress  upon  all  officers  in  com 
mand  of  posts,  and  troops  in  the  field,  the  importance  of  preventing  unauthorized 
persons  of  every  description  from  entering  and  leaving  our  lines,  and  of  observing 
the  greatest  precaution  in  the  employment  of  agents  and  clerks  in  confidential 

positions. 

"By  order  of  Major-General  HALLECK. 

"  WILLIAM  McMiCHAEL,  Assistant- Adjutant  General." 

General  Halleck  was  severely  blamed  for  this  order.  It  is  hardly  probable 
that,  at  a  later  date,  when  the  value  of  the  information  received  from  fugitive 
slaves  was  better  understood,  and  the  probability  of  their  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  rebels  (if  driven  from  our  lines)  ascertained,  he  would  have  issued  it ;  but 
at  the  time  when  it  was  promulgated,  only  nine  days  after  he  reached  St.  Louis, 
and  under  the  influences  by  which  he  was  surrounded,  he,  no  doubt,  honestly 
believed  it  to  be  necessary,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  being  informed  of  what 
was  transpiring  within  our  lines.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  administration 
of  the  Western  department,  Order  No.  3  was  substantially  a  dead  letter.  The 
matter  was  brought  up  in  Congress,  and  Honorable  F.  P.  Blair,  member  from  the 
St.  Louis  district,  wrote  to  General  Halleck  for  an  explanation.  The  general 
made  the  following  reply : 


220  HENRY     WAGER     II  ALLEGE. 

"ST.  Louis,  ,  1862. 

"  To  Honorable  F.  P.  BLAIR,  "Washington : 

"  BEAK  COLONEL  :  Yours  of  the  4th  instant  is  just  received.  Order  No.  3 
was,  in  my  mind,  clearly  a  military  necessity.  Unauthorized  persons,  black  or 
white,  free  or  slave,  must  be  kept  out  of  our  camps,  unless  we  are  willing  to 
publish  to  the  enemy  every  thing  we  do  or  intend  to  do. 

"  It  was  a  military  and  not  a  political  order. 

"I  am  willing  to  carry  out  any  lawful  instructions  in  regard  to  fugitive 
slaves  which  my  superiors  may  give  me,  and  to  enforce  any  law  which  Congress 
may  pass ;  but  I  cannot  make  law,  and  will  not  violate  it. 

"  You  know  my  private  opinion  on  the  policy  of  enacting  a  law  confiscating 
the  slave-property  of  rebels  in  arms.  If  Congress  shall  pass  it,  you  may  be  cer 
tain  I  shall  enforce  it 

"  Yours  truly,  H.  W.  HALLECK.' 

The  successful  progress  of  the  war  in  the  West,  and  the  prompt  massing  of 
troops  against  the  strong  points  of  the  enemy,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of 
Forts  Henry  and  Danelson ;  the  evacuation  of  Bowling  Green,  Columbus,  and 
Nashville,  culminating  in  the  bloody  and  hard-fought  field  of  Shiloh — gave  the 
strongest  testimony  to  the  comprehensive  intellect  and  extraordinary  executive 
ability  of  the  commander  of  the  Western  department.  After  the  last-named 
battle,  he  assumed  the  command  of  the  army  in  person,  and,  after  a  siege  of 
nearly  two  months,  compelled  the  rebels  to  evacuate  Corinth,  and  break  up  in 
disorder.  The  capture  of  Island  Number  Ten,  of  Huntsville,  Alabama,  and  the 
line  of  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad,  and  finally  of  Memphis  itself,  for  a 
time  paralyzed  the  power  of  the  rebels  in  the  West. 

The  disastrous  result  of  the  attempt  to  effect  a  change  of  base  in  the  army  of 
the  Potomac,  at  the  close  of  June  and  the  beginning  of  July,  1862,  convinced  the 
President  of  the  necessity  of  having  at  the  capital  a  general  of  the  highest  mili 
tary  skill,  who  should  be  capable  of  performing  the  duties  of  commander-in-chief 
of  all  the  army-corps  which  were  in  the  field,  and  who  could  direct  the  necessary 
combinations  for  efficient  and  successful  warfare,  and  thus  relieve  the  overtasked 
officials  of  the  war  department,  and  at  the  same  time  bring  the  war  to  a  more 
speedy  termination.  Among  the  numerous  generals  in  command,  none  possessed 
the  qualifications  needed  to  the  same  degree  as  Major-General  Halleck ;  and  after 
consultation  with  General  Scott,  the  President  summoned  him  to  Washington, 
and,  by  an  order  bearing  date  July  llth,  but  not  promulgated  till  July  23d,  1862, 
assigned  him  to  the  command  of  the  whole  land-forces  of  the  United  States,  as 
general-in-chief. 

General  Halleck  entered  upon  his  new  duties  about  the  25th  of  July,  and, 
as  soon  as  possible,  visited  the  camp  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  at  Harrison's 


HENRY  WAGER  HALLECK.  221 

Landing.  A  survey  of  the  condition  of  affairs  satisfied  him  of  the  necessity  of 
the  withdrawal  of  that  army  from  the  peninsula,  although  this  involved  the  rais 
ing  of  the  siege  of  Kichmond.  He  accordingly  ordered  General  McClellan  to 
remove  his  force  (except  General  Keyes's  corps,  which  was  to  be  left  at  Fortress 
Monroe),  as  speedily  as  could  be  done  consistently  with  the  safety  of  the  troops, 
to  Alexandria,  on  the  Potomac,  seven  miles  below  Washington,  the  point  from 
which  he  had  embarked  for  the  disastrous  campaign  on  the  peninsula.  Mean 
while,  he  ordered  General  Pope  to  advance  toward  Gordonsville,  and  threaten 
Eichmond  from  that  direction,  in  order  to  create  a  diversion  which  should  pre 
vent  the  enemy  from  attacking  General  McClellan's  rear  in  force.  The  two 
armies,  once  consolidated,  could  move  forward  on  Eichmond,  in  connection  with 
Burnside's  corps,  then  at  Fredericksburg,  with  irresistible  power. 

The  plan  was  an  admirable  one,  and,  had  it  been  carried  out  as  General 
Halleck  designed,  must  have  given  us  speedy  possession  of  Virginia ;  but  the 
delay  incident  to  the  removal  of  so  large  a  force  compelled  General  Pope  to 
retreat  north  of  the  Eappahannock ;  and,  during  the  subsequent  delays  and  mis 
understandings,  his  army  was  outflanked  and  compelled  to  fall  back  to  the  forti 
fications  around  Washington — the  junction  of  the  two  forces  not  being  effected 
till  after  the  defeat  of  August  30th,  1862. 

It  is  under  these  circumstances,  which  will  so  thoroughly  test- the  great 
qualities  of  a  commander,  that  we  are  called  to  leave  our  record  of  General 
Halleck's  career :  but  though  the  clouds  lower  more  darkly  over  our  country 
than  at  any  previous  period  of  its  history,  we  feel  confident  that  the  man  is  equal 
to  the  emergency ;  that  his  vigorous  intellect  and  his  military  skill  will  soon 
educe  order  from  the  present  confusion ;  and,  if  his  efforts  are  not  thwarted  by 
the  incompetency  of  subordinate  generals,  we  may  hope  soon  to  see  victory  again 
perch  upon  our  banners. 

In  stature,  General  Halleck  is  somewhat  below  the  medium  height ;  he  is 
straight,  active,  well  formed,  and  his  gait  and  manner  betoken  the  energetic  sol 
dier.  His  forehead  is  ample ;  his  eye  a  clear,  brilliant  hazel,  of  great  penetrating 
power ;  and,  though  his  general  expression  is  stern,  his  mouth  indicates  that  he 
possesses  a  vein  of  humor.  He  has  no  fondness  for  fine  clothes,  and  during  his 
Western  campaign  was  oftener  seen  in  citizen's  dress  than  in  uniform.  When 
he  appeared  in  full  military  dress,  he  seemed  not  at  ease ;  and,  though  a  good 
rider — as,  indeed,  he  ought  to  be,  after  his  Californian  experiences — he  never 
appears  worse  than  when  in  full  dress,  reviewing  his  troops. 

The  love  of  order,  promptness  in  dispatching  business,  and  a  capacity  for 
comprehending  the  whole  of  a  subject  at  a  glance,  are  General  Halleck's  most 
marked  characteristics.  That  he  possesses  some  eccentricities,  all  who  know  him 
will  readily  admit.  He  is  at  times  brusque  almost  to  incivility ;  utterly  intol- 


222  HENRY  WAGER  HALLECK. 

erant  of  bores,  whom  he  dismisses  without  ceremony ;  and  neglectful  of  those 
little  arts  by  which  so  many  men,  of  far  less  calibre,  gain  popularity.  That  he 
scorns  to  seek,  and  never  won  it  with  his  soldiers,  who,  however,  had  the  greatest 
respect  for  his  intellectual  capacity.  His  thoughtful  pacings  in  front  of  his  tent 
at  Corinth,  with  his  thumbs  in  the  armholes  of  his  vest,  and  his  felt  hat  on  the 
back  of  his  head,  and  inclining  upward  at  an  angle  of  forty -five  degrees,  were 
often  watched  by  the  soldiers,  who  always  concluded,  and  generally  correctly, 
that  "  Old  Brains/'  the  soubriquet  by  which  he  was  most  commonly  known  in  the 
camp,  was  solving  some  new  problem,  or  preparing  for  some  new  movement  to 
thwart  and  confound  the  enemy. 

These  traits  show  conclusively  what  is  the  work  to  which  General  Halleck 
is  best  adapted.  His  qualities  are  not  those  which  win  the  admiration  and  rouse 
the  enthusiasm  of  an  army ;  he  is  not,  and  does  not  aim  to  be,  a  dashing  com 
mander;  but  his  strong  common  sense,  his  thorough  knowledge  of  military 
science  and  military  law,  and  his  comprehensive  and  grasping  intellect,  qual  fy 
him,  beyond  any  other  man  connected  with  the  national  armies,  to  fill  success 
fully,  and  with  signal  advantage  to  the  country,  the  post  to  which  he  has  been 
called  by  the  President. 
34 


',i::c,  <;!-;x  JAMES  s  WADSWORTH. 


JAMES     SAMUEL    WAD  S  WORTH. 

TEE  subject  of  tliis  memoir  was  born  at  Geneseo,  Livingston  County,  N.  Y., 
October  thirtieth,  1807.  He  was  descended  from  an  old  Connecticut  family, 
distinguished  in  colonial  history,  one  of  whose  members,  Captain  Wadsworth, 
will  be  remembered  as  the  patriot  who  hid  the  charter  of  Connecticut  in  the 
Charter  Oak  at  Hartford  when  Governor  Andros  tried  to  get  possession  of  it  in 
1G87.  Mr.  James  Wadsworth,  the  father  of  the  late  General,  emigrated  from 
Connecticut  to  Western  New-York  in  1790,  and  with  his  brother  William  (the 
General  Wadsworth  noted  in  the  war  of  1812)  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  on 
the  Genesee  River,  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Geneseo.  In  time  he  became  one 
of  the  richest  land-owners  in  the  State.  He  was  a  zealous  friend  of  all  philan 
thropic  enterprises,  "and  especially  interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  to  promote 
which  he  is  said  to  have  given,  in  the  course  of  his  life,  nearly  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  General  William  Wadsworth  died  a  bachelor,  and  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  being  the  heir  of  both  his  father  and  his  uncle,  found  himself,  after 
the  death  of  the  former  in  1844,  the  owner  of  an  estate  of  princely  magnificence 
in  one  of  the  finest  regions  of  New- York.  He  had  been  educated  at  Harvard  and 
Yale  Colleges,  and  after  being  graduated  with  honor,  studied  law  at  first  in  the 
office  of  Messrs.  McKean  and  Denniston,  at  Albany,  and  afterward  with  Daniel 
Webster.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1833,  but  never  practised,  finding  in 
agricultural  pursuits  and  the  management  and  improvement  of  his  estates  em 
ployments  much  more  to  his  liking.  Imitating  the  public  spirit  and  benevolence 
of  his  father,  he  was  not  only  a  generous  contributor  to  schools,  colleges,  and 
other  humanitarian  enterprises,  but  universally  beloved  for  his  private  charities. 
His  income  was  mainly  derived  from  the  rental  of  farms.  When  the  wheat- 
midge  made  such  ravages  in  the  Genesee  valley  several  years  ago,  his  agents  were 
instructed  to  settle  with  his  tenants  according  to  the  amount  of  their  crops,  and 
not  according  to  the  terms  of  their  contracts.  More  than  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  were  thus  relinquished  in  a  single  year,  and  when  his  treasurer  informed 
him  that,  in  consequence  of  these  reductions,  his  bank  account  was  largely  over 
drawn,  he  replied :  "I  can  stand  it  as  well  as  these  poor  hard-working  men,  and 
the  rents  will  be  released  if  I  have  to  sell  a  farm  to  pay  my  expenses." 

In  one  instance,  a  man  who  occupied  one  of  Mr.  Wadsworth's  smaller  and 
poorer  farms  was  reported  by  the  agent  as  having  failed  to  pay  the  rent.     Mr. 


224  JAMES   SAMUEL   WADSWORTH. 

Wadsworth  requested  the  delinquent  tenant  to  call  at  the  office,  and  listened  to 
the  story  of  his  misfortunes.  His  crops  had  failed,  a  yoke  of  oxen — his  principal 
reliance  to  do  the  work  on  the  farm  —  had  been  lost  by  an  accident,  and,  in  one 
word,  though  he  had  worked  hard,  every  thing  had  gone  against  him.  Mr. 
Wadsworth  handed  him  a  receipt  for  the  rent  and  a  check  for  one  hundred  dol 
lars.  "  Go,  my  friend,"  said  he,  "  buy  you  another  yoke  of  oxen  and  try  it  an 
other  year,  and  may  God  grant  you  prosperity."  The  tenant  could  only  stammer 
out  his  thanks  while  with  his  hard  hand  he  wiped  the  tears  from  his  eyes. 

At  the  time  of  the  Irish  famine,  Mr.  Wadsworth  sent  to  Ireland,  beside  a 
liberal  contribution  in  money,  a  thousand  bushels  of  corn  from  his  own  granaries. 

He  took  a  particular  pleasure  in  contributing  to  the  support  of  schools  and 
colleges,  and  established  at  Geneseo  a  free  public  library,  enriched  with  some 
thousands  of  rare  volumes.  On  one  occasion,  when  Martin  Yan  Buren  was  his 
guest,  Mr.  Wadswortli  took  the  ex-President  to  the  public  school  in  the  village 
of  Geneseo,  saying :  "  Mr.  Van  Buren,  I  will  show  you  one  of  the  nurseries  of 
republican  institutions."  Mr.  Van  Buren  made  a  speech  on  that  occasion,  in  the 
course  of  which  he  said  :  "  The  public  school  system  of  New- York  must  always 
prosper,  while  it  has  such  friends  as  the  distinguished  citizen  whose  hospitalities 
I  enjoy,  and  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  the  pleasure  of  this  interview." 

Though  he  never  held  office,  Mr.  Wadsworth  took  a  warm  interest  in  public 
questions,  and  was  often  a  delegate  to  political  conventions.  A  Democrat  of  the 
school  of  Jackson,  he  adhered,  when  the  schism  in  that  party  occurred,  to  the 
radical  wing,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Convention  at  Syracuse  in  1847, 
when  he  voted  for  the  resolution  of  Mr.  D.  D.  Field,  declaring  "  uncompromising 
hostility  to  the  extension  of  slavery  into  territory  now  free,  or  which  may  here 
after  be  acquired  by  the  Government  of  the  United  States."  Being  chosen  a 
delegate  to  the  National  Convention  at  Baltimore  in  1848,  he  refused,  in  common 
with  the  other  "  Barnburners,"  to  participate  in  the  proceedings  on  equal  terms 
with  the  conservative  or  "Hunker"  delegates.  At  the  Utica  State  Democratic 
Convention,  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  was  supported  on  the  first  ballot  for 
the  nomination  of  Governor,  but  withdrew  in  favor  of  General  Dix.  He  was 
subsequently  a  candidate  for  elector  at  large  on  the  Yan  Buren  and  Adams 
ticket. 

The  passing  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  and  the  general  course  of  Mr. 
Pierce's  administration,  led  to  another  division  of  the  Democratic  party.  A  State 
Convention  assembled  at  Syracuse  in  July,  1856,  and  Mr.  Wadsworth  was  chosen 
President.  In  the  course  of  his  remarks  on  taking  the  chair,  he  said :  "  If 
Thomas  Jefferson  were  living  to-day,  he  would  be  driven  an  exile  from  his  native 
State,  and  would  not  be  allowed  to  migrate  to  the  great  domain  which  he  added 
to  the  possessions  of  our  country  west  of  the  Missouri.  ...  I  had  the  honor 


JAMES      SAMUEL      WADS  WORTH.  225 

to  be  a  member  of  the  convention  which  assembled  in  this  city  prior  to  the  Presi 
dential  election  of  1848.  That  Convention  laid,  then  and  there,  as  one  of  the 
corner-stones  of  the  Democracy  of  New- York,  a  stone  of  Jefferson  granite — oppo 
sition  to  the  extension  of  slavery.  I  see  about  me  the  faces  of  many  men  who 
were,  with  me,  delegates  to  the  National  Convention  which  assembled  in  Balti 
more  in  that  year  ;  and  I  claim  that  as  representatives  of  the  democracy  of  New- 
York  we  proved  ourselves  true  to  the  great  trust  reposed  in  us." 

At  the  Republican  Convention  that  fall,  Mr.  Wadsworth,  after  being  sup 
ported  for  Governor,  was  nominated  for  elector  at  large  on  the  Fremont  ticket. 
In  1860,  he  was  offered  the  Republican  nomination  for  Governor,  but  refused  it 
in  deference  to  the  claims  of  Governor  Morgan.  "  I  consider  the  nomination  of 
Governor  Morgan,"  he  wrote,  "as  due  to  him  for  the  faithful  performance  of  his 
duties,  and  at  the  same  time  as  the  best  course  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the 
party."  In  the  State  Convention  he  accordingly  warmly  supported  Mr.  Morgan's 
renomination.  He  was  himself  made  a  candidate  for  Presidential  elector,  and  as 
such  cast  his  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  At  the  beginning  of  the  secession 
movement  the  Legislature  of  New- York  appointed  him  a  commissioner  to  the 
Peace  Conference  which  met  at  Washington,  February  fourth,  1861.  He  signal 
ized  himself  throughout  its  deliberations  by  a  cordial  support  of  every  plan  of 
conciliation  to  which  a  Republican  could  honorably  assent,  and  a  stern  resistance 
to  every  other. 

On  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  he  offered  his  services  to  the  Government,  and 
was  proposed  by  Governor  Morgan  for  a  major-generalship,  but  he  waived  the 
honor  in  favor  of  General  Dix.  When  the  militia  were  called  out,  and  the  capi 
tal  cut  off  from  regular  communication  with  the  North  by  the  outbreak  in  Balti 
more,  he  chartered  two  ships  upon  his  own  responsibility,  loaded  them  with  pro 
visions,  and  proceeded  with  them  to  Annapolis,  where  they  arrived  most  oppor 
tunely  to  supply  the  pressing  necessities  of  the  Government.  From  that  time  lie 
was  employed  by  General  Scott  in  the  execution  of  several  delicate  and  important 
military  commissions. 

At  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  he  served  as  volunteer  aid,  with  the  rank  of 
major,  on  the  staff  of  General  McDowell,  displaying  great  gallantry  and  coolness, 
and  finally,  after  having  his  horse  shot  under  him,  seizing  the  colors  of  a  panic- 
struck  regiment,  and  calling  upon  the  men  to  "rally  once  more  for  the  glorious 
old  flag."  Long  afterward  the  soldiers  of  his  command  used  to  tell  how,  in  one 
of  his  many  efforts  to  rally  the  broken  troops,  he  personally  led  twenty-eight  men 
against  the  enemy,  of  whom  only  four  beside  himself  came  back  unhurt.  After 
the  battle  he  remained  at  Fairfax  till  late  the  next  morning,  "  to  see  that  the  strag 
glers  and  weary  and  worn-out  soldiers  were  not  left  behind." 

On  the  ninth  of  August,  1861,  he  was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  of 


226  JAMES      SAMUEL      WADS  WORTH. 

volunteers,  and  assigned  a  brigade  in  McDowell's  division,  his  troops  consisting 
of  the  Twelfth,  Twenty-first,  Twenty-third,  and  Twenty-fifth  New- York  volun 
teers.  During  the  winter  he  was  encamped  near  Manassas  Junction,  and  he  used 
to  express  his  indignation  at  not  being  allowed  to  move  forward  and  capture 
that  post. 

It  is  said  that,  impatient  of  long  inaction,  he  proposed  to  the  War  Depart 
ment  that  if  it  would  give  him  his  brigade  free  from  control,  and  let  him  light  the 
enemy  when  and  where  he  wanted  to,  he  would  clothe,  feed,  and  pay  it, 

In  March,  1862,  the  President  appointed  him  Military  Governor  of  the  Dis 
trict  of  Columbia,  and  commander  of  the  forces  left  for  the  defence  of  Washington 
when  McClellan  began  the  Peninsula  campaign.  It  was  while  exercising  the 
duties  of  this  office  that  he  received  the  Republican  nomination  for  Governor  of 
New- York,  September  twenty-fourth,  1862.  In  his  letter  to  the  Hon.  Henry  J. 
Raymond,  President  of  the  Convention,  accepting  the  nomination,  he  expressed 
his  cordial  approval  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proclamation.  On  the  twen 
ty-seventh,  he  made  a  speech  in  Washington,  in  reply  to  a  serenade.  "  We  arc 
in  the  pangs  of  dissolution,"  he  said,  "  or  wre  are  in  the  pangs  of  exorcism.  If  we 
would  save  ourselves,  we  must  cast  out  the  devil  which  has  tormented  and  dis 
graced  us  from  the  hour  of  our  national  birth.  We  want  peace,  but  more  than 
we  want  peace  we  want  a  country.  We  want  peace,  but  we  want  an  honorable 
peace,  a  permanent  peace,  a  solid  peace." 

He  was  not  elected.  In  the  counties  west  of  the  Hudson  River  he  received 
handsome  majorities,  but  the  unexpected  strength  of  the  Democratic  party  in 
New- York  and  the  river  counties  led  to  the  choice  of  Mr.  Seymour  by  a  majority 
of  ten  thousand.  In  December,  having  asked  for  active  service,  he  was  assigned 
command  of  a  division  in  the  Eleventh  (Sigel's)  army  corps.  He  wras  not  present 
at  Burnside's  attack  on  Fredericksburgh,  but  he  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Chan- 
cellorsville  under  General  Hooker.  At  Gettysburgh  he  commanded  the  First 
division  of  the  First  corps,  receiving  the  first  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  distinguishing 
himself  throughout  the  engagement  by  his  personal  daring  and  skilful  manage 
ment  of  his  troops.  Subsequently  he  was  transferred  to  the  Fourth  division  of 
the  Fifth  (Warren's)  corps.  On  the  first  day  of  General  Grant's  battles  in  the 
Wilderness,  May  fifth,  1864,  his  division  lost  nearly  a  third  of  its  numbers.  On 
the  next  day,  Friday,  the  sixth,  he  was  ordered  to  attack  A.  P.  Hill.  For  more 
than  half  an  hour  the  conflict  raged  fearfully.  Success  appeared  to  waver  ;  and 
finally  General  Wadsworth  ordered  his  men  to  charge.  He  was  answered  by  a 
cheer.  Spurring  to  the  front,  he  was  in  the  act  of  leading  them  on,  hat  in  hand, 
when  a  bullet  struck  him  in  the  forehead,  killing  him  instantly. 

It  had  always  been  the  General's  habit  to  ride  about  the  foremost  line,  and 
even  amongst  his  skirmishers.  He  was  very  cool  and  collected  under  fire,  and 


JAMES      SAMUEL      WADS  WORTH.  227 

though  more  than  half  a  century  old  when  he  took  up  the  profession  of  arms,  he 
knew  well  how  to  handle  his  division  ;  how  to  hold  a  line  of  battle  ;  how  to  order 
and  lead  a  charge  ;  and  how  to  do  the  plain  work,  which  he  liked  best.  When 
gray-headed  "  Pap  Wadsworth  "  rode  into  the  fight,  his  men  knew  there  was  hard 
work  to  be  done,  for  he  did  not  like  to  give  up.  At  Gettysburg!!  he  showed 
how  much  a  plucky,  tenacious  leader  can  do  with  a  handful  of  troops  in  keeping 
back  and  making  cautious  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy. 

Such  qualities  of  course  endeared  him  to  his  men,  but  they  loved  him  still 
more  for  the  care  he  took  for  their  comfort.  When  his  brigade  was  encamped  in 
Virginia,  in  the  winter  of  1861,  his  men  had  the  best  of  every  thing  that  could 
be  got,  frequently  "  at  Pap's  expense."  "  Make  out  a  requisition  for  extra  shoes," 
he  said  to  one  of  his  officers,  while  preparing  for  his  last  campaign ;  "  about  one 
pair  of  shoes  for  every  two  men.  I  think  we  can  get  them  of  the  Quartermaster, 
but  I  will  see  to  it  that  at  any  rate  they  are  got.  They  will  not  be  heavy  to 
carry,  and  we  shall  find  the  value  of  them  before  we  get  through." 

"I  remember,"  he  added,  "during  the  march  through  Maryland,  before  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg!},  we  passed  over  a  tract  of  country  extremely  rugged  and 
stony,  and  I  saw  not  only  men  but  officers  walking  along  with  bleeding  feet. 
The  men's  shoes  gave  out  entirely.  It  hurt  my  feelings  more  than  I  can  tell  you, 
to  see  the  good  fellows  trudge  along  so.  We  came  to  a  town  on  the  line  of 
march,  and  I,  who  was  riding  at  the  head  of  the  column,  spurred  ahead  to  see  if 
there  were  not  some  shoe-stores  where  I  could  purchase  what  was  needed  for  the 
men.  All  the  shops  were  closed  ;  the  first  men  I  saw  were  two  sitting  outside  of 
a  closed  shop. 

"  '  Are  there  any  shoe-stores  in  this  town  ?'  I  asked.  They  replied,  in  a 
gruff  way,  that  they  could  not  tell,  there  might  be  and  there  might  not,  I  told 
them  that  I  wanted  to  buy  shoes  for  my  troops,  who  were  barefooted.  They  re 
plied  they  guessed  I  wouldn't  get  many. 

"At  that,"  said  the  General,  "I  got  angry.  Said  I,  there  are  two  pairs  of 
shoes  at  any  rate,  which  I  see  on  your  feet.  Take  them  off  instantly !  I  shouted 
to  them.  They  were  obliged  to  do  it.  I  went  through  the  town,  and  took  the 
shoes  off  every  man's  feet  I  could  see  ;  and  thus  I  raised  about  two  hundred  pairs 
in  all.  One  fine  old  fellow,  a  miller,  whom  I  met,  I  did .  not  deprive  of  his  own 
pair ;  I  rode  up  to  him  and  asked  if  he  had  any  shoes  he  could  spare  me,  describ 
ing  the  pitiful  condition  of  my  men.  The  old  man  said  :  '  I  don't  know  if  there's 
any  shoes  in  the  house  or  not,  but'  —  looking  down  at  his  feet — 'here's  a  pair 
you're  welcome  to  at  any  rate.'  I  would  not  let  him  take  them  off,  but  he  gave 
me  some  from  his  house.  All  the  rest  I  stripped." 


LEONIDAS     POLK. 

THE  checkered  career  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  possesses  some  features 
which  the  life  of  no  other  man.  prominent  in  the  Southern  rebellion,  has 
yet  presented.  Educated  in  the  principles  of  military  art  and  the  science  of  the 
ology  —  elevated  by  his  talents  and  energy  to  the  highest  of  spiritual  positions  — 
General  Polk  attained  the  "painful  preeminence"  of  being  the  only  member  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  who,  in  the  present  crisis  of  our  country's  his 
tory,  exchanged  the  bishop's  crook  for  the  sword  of  rebellion ;  and  forgetting 
his  high  calling  in  the  service  of  the  Prince  of  peace,  plunged  with  devoted 
energy  into  all  the  horrors  of  war. 

Leonidas  Polk  was  born  about  the  year  1806,  at  Ealeigh,  North-Carolina. 
He  was  the  son  of  William  Polk.  Having  received  an  elementary  education  in 
his  native  State,  he  was  admitted,  in  1823,  into  the  Military  Academy  at  West- 
Point.  While  there  he  became  a  member  of  the  staff  of  General  Worth,  and  was 
appointed  an  officer  of  the  battalion  of  cadets.  In  June,  1827,  he  graduated  from 
the  institution,  ranking  eighth  in  the  class,  which  numbered  among  its  members 
the  present  rebel  General  Kains,  and  entered  the  United  States  army  as  brevet 
Second  Lieutenant  of  artillery.  Preferring,  however,  civil  to  military  life,  he  re 
signed  from  the  army  in  December  of  the  same  year,  without  having  been  assigned 
to  any  regiment  in  the  service.  He  then  began  the  study  of  divinity,  and  having 
passed  through  the  requisite  course  of  preparation,  was  duly  ordained  a  clergyman 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  He  continued  to  act  as  a  priest  till  1838, 
when  he  received  the  appointment  of  .Missionary  Bishop  of  Arkansas  and  the 
Indian  Territory  south  of  thirty-six  degrees  thirty  minutes,  with  a  provisional 
charge  of  the  diocese  of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana,  and  the  mission  in 
the  republic  of  Texas.  This  missionary  see  was  retained  by  Bishop  Polk  for 
three  years,  when,  in  1841,  he  was  consecrated  regular  Bishop  of  the  diocese  of 
Louisiana.  Twenty  years  of  Episcopal  labors  followed  this  appointment,  till 
finally,  in  1861,  the  peacefulness  of  society  was  broken  by  the  loud  clamors  of 
rebellion,  and  yielding  to  the  excitement  of  the  times,  Bishop  Polk  determined  to 
enter  the  service  of  the  confederate  States,  claiming,  however,  with  singular  incon 
sistency,  to  retain  at  the  same  time  the  spiritual  care  of  his  bishopric.  "When," 
said  he,  "I  accept  a  commission  in  the  confederate  army,  I  not  only  perform 
the  duties  of  a  good  citizen,  but  contend  for  the  principles  which  lie  at  the 


LEONIDAS      POLK.  229 

foundation  of  our  social,  political,  and  religious  polity."  At  the  solicitation  of 
Jefferson  Davis,  who  had  been  with  him  as  a  cadet  at  West-Point,  the  war-loving 
Bishop  accepted  the  office  of  Major-General,  though  he  refused  the  less  flattering 
position  of  a  brigadier,  and  was  assigned  a  command  extending  from  the  Arkansas 
River,  on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi,  to  the  northernmost  limits  claimed  by  the 
rebels,  which  included  their  encampment  at  Corinth,  the  northern  portions  of 
Mississippi  and  Alabama,  the  whole  of  Tennessee,  and  nearly  all  of  Arkansas, 
having  his  headquarters  at  Memphis.  During  the  summer  of  1861,  he  hastened 
the  occupation  of  Kentucky  by  the  Union  troops  under  Generals  Grant  and 
Anderson,  in  consequence  of  his  encroachments  upon  her  soil.  This  event  was 
succeeded  by  the  bloody  battle  of  Belmont,  and  being  followed  by  the  capture  of 
Forts  Henry  and  Donelson  and  the  evacuation  of  Bowling  Green  and  Columbus, 
all  of  which  places  were  within  his  department,  he  was  superseded,  and  having 
been  made  Lieutenant-General,  was  placed  in  command  of  an  army  corps  under 
Generals  A.  S.  Johnston  and  Beauregard.  In  this  capacity  he  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Shiloh,  and  in  the  operations  at  Corinth  previous  to  its  evacuation. 
The  department  was  now  placed  under  the  control  of  General  Braxton  Bragg,  and 
being  appointed  to  the  command  of  a  corps  in  his  army,  Lieutenant-General  Polk 
took  part  in  the  rebel  movement  through  Tennessee  into  Kentucky  during  Sep 
tember,  1862,  and  fought  at  the  battle  of  Perryville  on  the  eighth  of  the  following 
month.  A  singular  emergency  in  the  course  of  this  engagement  gave  occasion 
for  a  display  of  his  remarkable  presence  of  mind.  Finding  himself,  at  one  stage 
of  the  action,  suddenly  in  the  midst  of  his  enemies,  he  assumed  an  air  of  authori 
ty,  and  commanding  a  regiment  of  Union  troops  to  "  cease  firing,"  he  passed,  un 
recognized  as  a  rebel  officer,  through  their  ranks,  succeeded  in  making  his  escape, 
and  rejoined  his  own  men,  leaving  his  foes  to  admire  and  lament  the  cool  self- 
possession  which  enabled  him  to  slip  from  their  hands.  At  the  battle  of  Mur- 
freesboro,  General  Polk  commanded  the  First  corps  of  General  Bragg's  army,  and 
participated  in  the  struggles  at  Stone  River,  which  were  followed  by  the  retreat 
of  the  rebel  army  to  Tullahoma,  Alabama,  This  place  they  were  afterward,  in 
the  summer  of  1863,  compelled  to  evacuate,  in  consequence  of  being  outflanked 
by  General  Rosecrans.  In  September  of  the  same  year,  General  Bragg  was  again 
confronted  by  General  Rosecrans  at  Chickamauga,  where  a  bloody  engagement 
ensued,  which,  in  the  estimation  of  the  rebel  General,  might  have  resulted  in  the 
destruction  of  the  Union  army  had  his  commands  been  obeyed.  In  his  official 
report  of  the  battle,  however,  General  Bragg  accused  General  Polk  of  disobedience 
of  orders,  attributing  the  failure  to  his  subordinate's  dereliction  of  duty.  For  this 
misconduct  General  Polk  was  removed  from  his  command  on  the  thirtieth  of 
September,  and  ordered  to  Atlanta  under  arrest.  The  proud  spirit  of  the  warlike 
Bishop  could  ill  brook  such  disgrace,  but  as  the  rebel  President  refused  to  accept 


230  LEON  IDAS      POLK. 

his  resignation,  General  Polk  was  forced  to  submit,  and  after  a  temporary  inac 
tivity,  was  placed  in  command  of  the  camp  of  prisoners  paroled  by  Generals  Grant 
and  Banks  at  Vicksburgh  and  Port  Hudson.  He  continued  in  charge  of  these 
troops  from  the  twentieth  of  November,  1863,  till  January,  1864,  when  he  again 
took  the  field,  being  appointed  in  the  place  of  General  Johnston  to  the  temporary 
command  of  the  rebel  department  of  the  Mississippi.  When  that  State  was  pene 
trated  by  General  Sherman  in  February  following,  General  Polk  attempted  to 
check  the  march  of  the  Union  army  by  organizing  his  command  into  two  separate 
cavalry  departments,  of  which  the  northern  was  to  be  commanded  by  General 
Forrest,  with  headquarters  at  Como,  and  the  southern  by  General  Lee,  with  head 
quarters  at  Jackson.  This  disposition  of  forces  seriously  interfered  with  General 
Sherman's  progress,  though  it  did  not  prevent  the  accomplishment  of  his  principal 
design.  The  obstacles  thrown  in  his  enemy's  way,  however,  led  General  Polk  to 
claim  a  victory,  and  drew  from  him  a  warm  congratulatory  order,  dated  at  Demo- 
polis,  Alabama,  February  twenty-sixth,  1864,  in  which  he  thanked  his  men  for 
their  cheerful  endurance  of  fatigue,  and  their  firmness  and  good  conduct  through 
out  the  campaign.  The  officers  he  commended  for  their  skill  and  judgment,  and 
declared,  in  allusion  to  General  Sherman's  "defeat  and  rout,"  as  he  termed  them, 
that  "  never  did  a  grand  campaign,  inaugurated  with  such  pretensions,  terminate 
more  ingloriously." 

For  some  months  succeeding  these  events  General  Polk  remained  in  com 
parative  obscurity,  till  called  upon  to  meet  again  on  the  fields  of  Western  Georgia 
his  old  antagonist,  General  Sherman,  who  was  making  rapid  strides  into  the  inte 
rior  of  the  State.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  fourteenth  of  June,  1864,  General  Polk 
(who  commanded  one  wing  of  Johnston's  army)  rode  to  Pine  Mountain  in  com 
pany  with  Generals  Hardee  and  Johnston,  and  dismounted  for  the  purpose  of 
making  telescopic  observations  of  the  Union  lines.  While  so  engaged,  a  projec 
tile  from  a  Union  battery  struck  him  on  the  left  arm,  about  the  elbow,  passed 
through  his  body,  and  carried  off  his  right  arm,  producing  instant  death. 

In  person,  General  Polk  was  of  commanding  appearance ;  he  was  tall  and 
erect,  with  deep-set  eyes  of  a  penetrating  gray,  nose  of  Roman  build,  mouth 
sunken,  lips  tightly  compressed,  and  hair  slightly  tinged  with  white  ;  his  whole 
countenance  and  attitude  bespeaking  the  soldier  rather  than  the  divine.  In 
language,  he  was  ready,  quick,  and  fluent ;  in  conversation,  affable  and  courteous  ; 
but  it  is  to  be  deeply  regretted  that  his  mind,  imbued  with  false  and  dangerous 
political  principles,  should  have  led  him  to  throw  off  his  Episcopal  robes,  the  em 
blem  of  spiritual  supervision  and  watchfulness,  and,  assuming  the  uniform  of  a 
general,  devote  to  an  unhallowed  cause  the  military  ardor  and  education  of  his 
youth. 


GKX  .    JOHN    A    m x 


JOHN   ADAMS   DIX. 

JOHN  ADAMS  DIX,  son  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Timothy  Dix,  of  the  United 
States  army,  was  born  at  Boscawen,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  24th  of  July, 
1798.  At  a  very  early  age  he  was  sent  to  the  academy  at  Salisbury,  from  which 
he  was  afterward  transferred  to  the  academy  at  Exeter,  then  under  the  direction 
of  the  celebrated  Doctor  Abbott,  where  he  was  the  fellow-student  of  Doctor  Jared 
Sparks,  Honorable  John  Or.  Palfrey,  the  Peabodys,  the  Buckminsters,  and  others 
who  have  since  acquired  a  just  celebrity  for  their  literary  and  scientific  attain 
ments.  Early  in  1811,  while  he  was  not  yet  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  was  trans 
ferred  to  a  college  at  Montreal,  where,  under  the  direction  of  the  Fathers  of  the 
Sulpician  Order,  he  diligently  pursued  his  studies  until  July,  1812,  when,  in 
consequence  of  the  opening  of  hostilities  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain,  he  was  compelled  to  return  to  his  own  country. 

After  a  short  term  of  study  at  Boston,  in  December,  1812,  young  Dix  was 
appointed  a  cadet  in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  and  was  ordered  to  Balti 
more,  where  his  father  was  then  in  command.  His  official  duties  were  confined 
to  an  assistant  clerkship  to  his  father,  in  the  recruiting  service ;  and  he  was,  for 
tunately,  enabled  to  continue  his  studies,  under  the  direction  of  the  able  faculty 
of  St.  Mary's  College,  a  privilege  which  he  gladly  enjoyed.  He  was,  at  that 
time,  a  master  of  Spanish,  a  good  Latin  and  Greek  scholar,  and  well  acquainted 
with  mathematics.  lie  spoke  French  fluently ;  and  in  every  respect  he  was  a 
highly-cultivated  and  scholarly  young  man. 

In  March,  1813,  while  on  a  visit  to  the  city  of  Washington,  the  secretary  of 
war  offered  him,  without  solicitation,  the  choice  of  a  scholarship  in  the  military 
academy  at  West  Point,  or  an  ensigncy  in'  the  army  which  was  then  about  to 
take  the  field.  He  sel^ited  the  latter,  entered  the  fourteenth  infantry,  of  which 
his  father  was  then  lieutenant-colonel,  and  immediately  inarched  with  his  com 
pany  to  Sackett's  Harbor,  in  New  York. 

In  June,  1813,  while  yet  in  his  fifteenth  year,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of 
an  independent  battalion  of  nine  companies,  commanded  by  Major  Upham,  with 
which  he  descended  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  participated  in  the  perils  and  hard 
ships  of  that  unfortunate  expedition. 

His  father  having  died  in  camp,  in  November,  1813,  Lieutenant  Dix  sought 


232  JOHN   ADAMS   DIX. 

and  obtained  leave  of  absence,  and  returned  home  for  the  purpose,  if  possible, 
of  saving  something  from  the  wreck  of  his  father's  estate,  which  had  become 
greatly,  and,  as  it  proved,  hopelessly  disordered,  during  the  absence  of  the 
latter  in  the  service  of  his  country.  The  lieutenant  was  then  but  little  more 
than  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  his  situation  was  one  of  great  embarrassment  and 
difficulty.  He  -had  lost  his  father,  by  whose  prudent  counsels  he  had  been 
guided,  and  with  his  mother  and  nine  children — all  but  two  younger  than  him 
self — he  was  thrown  upon  the  world  with  no  other  means  of  support  than  his 
lieutenant's  commission. 

In  August,  1814,  he  was  transferred  to  the  regiment  of  artillery  of  which 
Colonel  Wallach  was  the  commandant ;  and  under  the  guidance  of  that  gallant 
officer  he  continued  several  years,  pursuing  his  studies  in  history  and  the  classics 
whenever  his  duties  enabled  him  to  do  so.  In  1819,  he  was  called  into  the  mili 
tary  family  of  General  Brown,  as  an  aide-de-camp ;  and  his  leisure  hours  were 
spent  in  reading  law,  with  a  view  of  leaving  the  army  at  an  early  day. 

In  1825,  he  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  a  company  in  the  third  artil 
lery  ;  but  his  health  having  become  impaired,  he  was  compelled  to  ask  for  a 
leave  of  absence,  and  visited  Cuba,  where  he  passed  the  winter  of  1825-'6.  In 
the  following  summer,  still  in  search  of  health,  he  visited  Europe,  and  made  an 
extended  tour  through  the  continent. 

In  1826,  Captain  Dix  married  Catharine  Morgan,  adopted  daughter  of  John 
I.  Morgan,  Esq.,  of  the  city  of  New  York;  and  in  December,  1828,  he  retired 
from  the  army,  establishing  himself  soon  afterward  in  Cooperstown,  Otsego 
county,  New  York,  in  the  practice  of  law.  He  also  entered  political  life,  and  it 
was  not  long  before  he  became  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential  members 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  the  interior  of  the  state.  In  1830,  Governor  Throop 
called  him  into  the  public  service  as  adjutant-general,  a  post  of  duty  which  he 
filled  with  honor  to  himself  and  singular  advantage  to  the  militia  of  the  state. 

In  January,  1833,  he  was  chosen  secretary  of  state  of  New  York,  and  be 
came,  ex  officio,  superintendent  of  common  schools,  a  regent  of  the  university,  a 
member  of  the  canal  board,  and  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  canal  fund.  It 
was  he  who  introduced  and  established  school-district  libraries;  and  his  codifica 
tion  of  the  laws  and  decisions  under  which  the  common  schools  of  the  state  are 
governed,  is  a  monument  to  his  industry  and  official  integrity.  As  a  regent  of 
the  university  and  a  member  of  the  canal  boards,  he  also  rendered  very  efficient 
services  to  the  state ;  and  he  retired  from  office  with  well-earned  honors. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Dix  was  elected  a  member  of  the  assembly  of  the  state,  from 
the  county  of  Albany ;  and  in  the  struggle  which  ensued  concerning  the  financial 
policy  of  the  state  of  New  York,  under  the  leadership  of  the  sturdy  Michael 
Hoffman,  he  took  a  very  active  part.  In  the  extra  session  which  followed, 


JOHN     ADAMS      DIX.  233 

wherein  the  question  of  a  division  of  the  state  into  congressional  districts  was 
considered,  and  opposed  with  great  skill  and  energy,  Mr.  Dix  was  again  con 
spicuous  ;  and  in  two  very  able  speeches  he  urged  an  acquiescence  in  the  meas 
ure,  although  at  the  same  time  he  maintained  that  the  interference  of  Congress  in 
the  matter  was  unnecessary  and  unauthorized. 

In  the  fall  of  1842,  Mr.  Dix  went  abroad,  in  consequence  of  the  ill  health 
of  his  wife ;  spending  the  winter  in  Madeira,  and  the  following  year  in  the  south 
ern  countries  of  Europe.  He  returned  to  America  in  June,  1844,  and  in  Janu 
ary,  1845,  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  to  fill 
the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  elevation  of  Silas  Wright  to  the  gubernatorial  chair 
of  the  state.  During  the  succeeding  four  years  he  was  among  the  most  useful 
members  of  that  distinguished  body ;  and,  as  chairman  of  the  committee  of  com 
merce,  he  rendered  very  valuable  services  to  his  country.  During  his  official 
term  the  annexation  of  Texas,  the  war  with  Mexico,  the  Oregon  boundary,  the 
French  spoliations,  and  the  right  of  Congress  to  prevent  the  extension  of  slavery 
into  the  territories,  were  the  great  subjects  at  issue ;  and  on  the  latter  question, 
especially,  Mr.  Dix  took  a  decided  and  leading  position,  representing  with  great 
ability  "  The  Barnburners"  or  free-soil  Democrats  of  New  York. 

In  the  fall  of  1848,  Mr.  Dix  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  governor  of 
the  state  of  New  York ;  but,  of  course,  he  was  not  successful,  and  in  March, 
1849,  he  retired  to  private  life.  In  1853,  he  was  appointed  assistant  treasurer 
of  the  United  States,  in  New  York ;  but  soon  afterward,  having  become  dissat 
isfied  with  the  official  conduct  of  President  Pierce,  he  resigned  his  office,  and 
went  abroad. 

In  May.  1860,  Mr.  Dix  was  appointed  postmaster  of  the  city  of  New  York ; 
and  in  January,  1861,  when  the  public  danger  from  the  defection  of  the  Southern 
states  became  manifest,  he  was  summoned  to  "Washington  by  President  Buchanan, 
and  on  the  llth  of  that  month  succeeded  Mr.  Thomas  as  secretary  of  the  treasury. 
On  the  29th  of  January,  he  sent  the  justly  celebrated  telegraphic  dispatch  to 
Mr.  William  Hemphill  Jones,  whom  he  had  previously  sent  to  New  Orleans, 
with  orders  to  save,  if  possible,  the  revenue-cutters  M'Clelland  and  Cass ;  and 
" If  any  one  attempts  to  haul  down  the  American  flag,  shoot  him  on  the  spot!"  has 
since  become  one  of  the  watchwords  of  our  countrymen  in  their  struggle  with 
their  rebellious  brethren. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1861,  Mr.  Dix  retired  from  the  treasury  department, 
returning  to  his  home  in  New  York ;  and  on  the  20th  of  May,  when  the  assault 
on  Fort  Sumter  aroused  the  outraged  North,  he  was  called  to  preside  at  the  im 
mense  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  New  York  in  Union  Square,  which  had  been 
convened  to  take  measures  for  the  defence  of  the  constitution  and  the  enforce 
ment  of  the  laws.  "  The  Union  Defence  Committee,"  which  was  organized  at- 


234  JOHN     ADAMS      DIX. 

that  meeting,  and  on  which  so  much  depended  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  struggle, 
called  him  to  its  head ;  and,  as  its  chairman,  he  was  one  of  the  most  active  and 
intelligent  of  its  members. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  he  was  appointed  a  major-general  in  the  volunteer  ser 
vice  of  New  York ;  and,  on  the  14th  of  June,  the  President  appointed  him  to  a 
similar  position  in  the  army  of  the  United  States.  On  the  20th  of  July,  having 
been  appointed  commandant  of  the  department  of  Maryland,  he  was  ordered  to 
proceed  to  Baltimore,  where  he  established  his  head-quarters. 

Under  his  directions,  the  expedition  to  the  county  of  Accomac,  in  Virginia, 
commanded  by  General  Lockwood,  was  organized  and  successfully  prosecuted ; 
and  his  energetic  and  vigilant  prosecution  of  his  duties  was  displayed  in  the 
complete  quiet  which  prevailed  throughout  his  department. 

In  May,  1862,  he  was  transferred  to  the  command  of  the  military  depart 
ment  of  Eastern  Virginia  ;  and  established  his  head-quarters  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
Virginia. 

The  last  civil  duty  which  General  Dix  performed  was  as  a  member  of  the 
commission  to  consider  the  several  cases  of  alleged  treason  among  the  rebel  pris 
oners  in  the  custody  of  the  United  States  authorities. 

General  Dix  possesses  great  energy  of  character;  and  he  has  always  dis 
charged  the  varied  duties  to  which  he  has  been  called,  with  honor  to  himself  and 
advantage  to  the  country. 


DAVID     D.     PORTER. 

DAVID  D.  PORTER  js  the  youngest  son  of  the  late  Commodore  Porter,  the 
distinguished  commander  of  the  Essex  during  the  war  of  1812,  and,  after 
the  peace,  commander-in-chief  for  a  few  years  of  the  naval  forces  of  Mexico. 
David  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  and  while  he  was  still  quite  a  boy,  sailed  with 
his  father  in  1823  on  a  cruise  against  the  pirates  of  the  West-Indies.  Commo 
dore  Porter  had  command  of  a  fleet  of  twenty  vessels,  with  which  he  prosecuted 
for  some  time  a  most  vigorous  search  after  the  buccaneers  ;  but  in  October,  1824, 
two  of  his  officers  having  been  imprisoned  and  otherwise  ill-treated  at  Faxardo, 
on  the  island  of  Porto  Rico,  he  landed  a  large  force  and  compelled  the  authorities 
to  apologize.  For  thus*  exceeding  his  powers  he  was  recalled  and  suspended. 
His  son  entered  the  service  as  midshipman  in  February,  1829,  and  was  ordered 
to  the  Constellation  frigate,  thirty-six,  the  flag-ship  of  Commodore  Biddle. 
"With  this  officer  he  cruised  in  the  Mediterranean  until  1831,  and  in  1832,  after 
a  few  months'  leave  of  absence,  returned  to  the  same  station  in  the  forty-four  gun 
frigate  United  States,  the  flag-ship  of  Commodore  Patterson.  He  passed  his  ex 
amination  in  1835.  From  1836  to  1841  he  was  employed  in  the  coast  survey  and 
in  several  short  exploring  expeditions.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  ordered  to  the 
frigate  Congress,  with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant,  and  after  cruising  four  years  with 
that  vessel  in  the  Mediterranean  and  Brazilian  waters,  he  was  assigned  to  special 
duty,  in  the  latter  part  of  1845,  at  the  National  Observatory  in  Washington. 
For  a  time  during  the  Mexican  war  he  had  charge  of  the  naval  rendezvous  at 
New-Orleans,  and  afterward  commanded  the  coast-survey  schooner  Petrel. 

The  immense  passenger-traffic  which  sprang  up  about  this  time  between  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts,  in  consequence  of  the  discovery  of  the  California  gold- 
fields,  offered  the  Government  an  excellent  opportunity  to  perfect  its  young  naval 
officers  in  the  art  of  navigation  by  a  little  practical  schooling  on  the  California 
steamships.  Porter  was  one  of  the  first  to  whom  a  command  was  given,  and  in 
1849  he  he  left  New- York  as  captain  of  the  Panama,  one  of  the  line  destined  for 
service  on  the  Pacific  side.  The  passage  around  Cape  Horn  was  attended  with 
incidents  which  demonstrated  Lieutenant  Porter's  superior  qualifications  for  his 
post  in  the  most  conclusive  manner,  and  having  carried  his  vessel  safely  into 
Panama  Bay,  he  was  ordered  home  to  take  command  of  the  mail-steamer  Georgia. 
He  continued  in  this  employment  about  three  years  ;  then  had  about  two  years' 


236  DAVID      D.      PORTER. 

leave  of  absence;  in  1855  took  command  of  the  steamship  Supply  ;  and  after  that 
was  engaged  in  various  duties  of  no  special  importance,  being  stationed  for  a 
while  at  the  Portsmouth  Navy- Yard.  At  the  time  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter 
he  was  under  orders  to  join  the  coast  survey  service  on  the  Pacific  ;  but  fortunate 
ly  he  had  not  sailed  when  the  necessity  for  his  services  at  home  became  apparent. 
Through  the  resignation  of  disloyal  officers  he  rose,  by  regular  promotion,  to  the 
grade  of  Commander.  His  first  service  during  the  rebellion  was  with  the  steam- 
sloop  Powhatan,  on  the  blockade  of  Pensacola ;  but  *as  soon  as  the  expedition 
against  New-Orleans  was  planned,  he  was  ordered  North  and  placed  in  charge  of 
the  mortar-flotilla.  This  miniature  fleet,  destined  to  perform  such  important 
service  on  the  Western  waters,  consisted  of  twenty  small  schooners,  with  five 
steamers  to  manage  them.  Each  schooner  was  armed  with  a  single  gigantic  mor 
tar,  throwing  a  thirteen-inch  shell,  and  two  small  guns,  and  there  was  a  small 
armament  also  on  the  steamers.  The  bombardments  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St. 
Philip,  which  lasted  six  days  and  five  nights,  (April  eighteenth  to  twenty- 
fourth,  1862.)  was  performed  chiefly  by  this  flotilla.  The  position  of  each  vessel 
was  previously  marked  out  for  it  by  officers  of  the  coast  survey,  and  as  soon  as 
Farragut  was  ready  to  begin  operations  they  anchored  close  in  shore,  at  the  desig 
nated  spots,  with  their  masts  and  rigging  dressed  off  with  bushes,  so  that  they 
were  never  actually  seen  by  the  enemy  during  the  whole  course  of  the  bombard 
ment.  As  a  consequence  of  this  prudent  measure,  the  flotilla  received  but  little 
damage.  One  of  the  schooners  was  sunk,  but  the  loss  of  life  was  very  slight. 

When  Farragut  pushed  up  the  river  with  his  fleet,  Commander  Porter  was 
charged  with  the  duty  of  engaging  the  Forts  so  as  to  draw  their  fire.  Notwith 
standing  the  severity  of  the  bombardment  and  the  accuracy  of  Porter's  fire  —  an 
unusually  large  proportion  of  the  shells  having,  as  was  afterward  ascertained, 
fallen  inside  the  Forts — those  works  were  not  so  much  injured  as  might  have  been 
expected,  partly  on  account  of  the  soft  and  spongy  character  of  the  ground,  into 
which  the  shells  often  penetrated  as  much  as  twenty  feet ;  exploding  at  such  a 
depth,  they  merely  upheaved  the  earth  and  did  little  harm. 

After  the  surrender  of  the  Forts  Commander  Porter  was  ordered  to  Ship 
Island,  but  he  soon  moved  up  the  river  again  to  participate  in  Farragut's  attack 
on  Vicksburgh,  opening  fire  on  the  night  of  June  twenty-sixth  to  twenty-seventh. 
The  expedition  was  a  failure,  and  as  the  season  was  far  advanced  and  the  water 
getting  low,  the  fleet  returned  to  New-Orleans.  Porter  was  now  sent  with  his 
mortar-boats  to  the  James  Eiver.  In  October,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Western  flotilla,  wTith  the  rank  of  Acting  Rear- Admiral,  in  place  of  Com 
modore  C.  H.  Davis,  appointed  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Navigation.  The  full  rank 
of  Rear-Admiral  was  soon  afterward  conferred  upon  him. 

During  the  year  1863  he  was  constantly  employed,  principally  in  conjunction 


DAVID      D.      PORTER.  237 

with  the  land  forces.  His  fleet,  now  known  as  the  Mississippi  flotilla,  consisted 
of  more  than  one  hundred  vessels,  pierced  for  four  hundred  and  sixty-two  guns, 
and  manned  by  live  thousand  five  hundred  men.  It  took  part  in  the  capture  of 
Arkansas  Post,  January  eleventh,  in  the  long  series  of  operations  which  culminated 
in  the  taking  of  Vicksburgh  and  Port  Hudson,  and  in  several  important  expedi 
tions  up  the  White  and  Red  Rivers.  It  also  rendered  valuable  service  in  patrol 
ling  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  Rivers,  and  dispersing  the  guerrillas  who 
fired  upon  supply  steamers  and  transports. 

Admiral  Porter  accompanied  General  Banks  on  his  disastrous  expedition 
against  Shreveport  in  the  spring  of  1864,  and  rendered  all  the  service  that  the 
nature  of  the  circumstances  permitted  in  extricating  the  army  from  their  perilous 
situation.  By  a  sudden  fall  in  the  river,  he  found  his  vessels  caught  above  the 
rapids,  and  they  were  only  saved  by  the  skill  and  ingenuity  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Bailey,  an  engineer  officer,  who  floated  them  over  the  rapids  by  building  a  dam 
a  little  way  below.  In  his  graphic  and  well- written  report  of  the  expedition, 
Rear- Admiral  Porter  paid  this  officer  a  very  high  compliment. 

Admiral  Porter  is  a  brother  of  the  late  Commodore  W.  D.  Porter,  who  com 
manded  the  gunboat  Essex  on  the  Mississippi  River  at  the  time  of  the  destruction 
of  the  rebel  ram  Arkansas,  and  a  cousin  of  Major-General  Fitz-John  Porter. 


NATHANIEL  PRENTISS  BANKS. 

AS  bobbin-boy,  machinist,  editor,  lawyer,  and  representative,  studious,  ener 
getic,  and  aspiring;  as  Congressman,  and  governor  of  his  native  state 
statesmanlike  and  comprehensive ;  as  major-general,  clear,  earnest,  and  practical 
— the  life  of  JST.  P.  Banks  exhibits  a  career  peculiarly  American  in  every  feature, 
and  is  well  worthy  of  study  by  the  American  people  themselves  as  a  "repre 
sentative  life,"  and  also  by  all  who  have  any  desire  to  understand  that  riddle  of 
all  foreign  writers,  "the  American  character." 

NATHANIEL  PRENTISS  BANKS  was  born  in  Waltham,  Massachusetts,  Janu 
ary  30th,  1816.  Waltham  was  even  then  a  busy  place,  and  the  roar  of  engines 
and  the  whirr  of  looms  and  spindles  were  the  familiar  circumstances  of  daily  life 
to  its  people.  Nathaniel  was  the  son  of  an  overseer  in  a  cotton  factory ;  and 
when  he  had  years  enough — a  very  few  suffice — he  became  himself  a  "  bobbin- 
boy"  under  his  father's  direction.  Some  few  months'  early  attendance  at  a  common 
school  had  instilled  into  him,  however,  a  thirst  for  knowledge ;  and  all  his  hours 
"  not  occupied  in  the  factory  were  devoted  to  the  grave  and  important  studies  of 
history,  political  economy,  and  the  science  of  government."  From  the  factory 
he  went  to  the  forge,  and  learned  the  machinist's  trade.  Literary  aspirations 
came  upon  him  in  connection  with  the  representations  of  a  dramatic  company 
formed  among  his  associates,  with  whom  he  played  the  principal  parts  with  great 
success ;  he  lectured  before  lyceums,  temperance  societies,  and  political  assem 
blages  ;  became  editor  of  the  village  paper  of  his  native  place,  and  subsequently 
of  a  paper  at  Lowell,  in  which  he  advocated  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party.  Through  this  means  he  entered  somewhat  advantageously  upon  the  field 
of  politics,  and  received  an  office,  under  the  Polk  administration,  in  the  Boston 
custom-house.  For  six  years  he  was  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  Massachusetts 
legislature,  and  was  defeated  every  successive  year;  but  in  the  seventh  year, 
1848,  he  was  elected  representative  for  Waltham.  His  first  speech,  delivered 
February  23d,  1849,  was  on  the  presentation  of  certain  resolutions  on  the  slavery 
question ;  and  its  purport  was,  that  the  Democratic  party,  in  the  extension  of  ter 
ritory,  was  not  influenced  by  any  desire  for  the  extension  of  slavery.  A  wide 
publicity  was  given  to  this  speech,  and  the'  Democrats  of  Massachusetts  were  so 
impressed  by  it,  that  Mr.  Banks  was  recognized  as  a  leader  in  that  party.  Honors 


MAJ.  GEN.  \.\TI11:  R  h.\\i\S. 


NATHANIEL     PRENTISS     BANKS.  230 

followed  fast.  In  1850,  lie  was  simultaneously  elected  to  the  state  senate  by  the 
Democracy  of  Middlesex  county,  and  to  the  house  by  his  constituents  of  Wal- 
tham.  He  decided  to  remain  in  the  house,  and  was  chosen  speaker  by  a  large 
majority  on  the  first  ballot.  He  held  this  position  for  two  successive  sessions. 
Upon  the  rolls  of  the  house,  for  his  first  year  in  it,  Mr.  Banks  is  entered  as  a 
machinist,  but  in  the  next  year  as  a  lawyer. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Banks  was  elected  to  Congress,  by  an  affiliation  of  the  Demo 
crats  of  his  district  with  the  American  party,  or  "Know-Nothings."  Upon  this 
canvass  the  American  party  was  very  largely  in  the  majority,  and  Mr.  Banks 
"avowed  his  sentiments  freely  and  fully."  In  the  summer  of  1853,  he  was 
chosen  president  of  the  convention  called  to  revise  the  constitution  of  Massachu 
setts.  Apparently  he  had  been  mistaken  in  the  Democratic  party,  for  he  soon 
transferred  his  allegiance  to  the  new  Republican  organization.  He  was  twice 
re-elected  to  the  national  House  of  Representatives,  and  served  in  the  thirty - 
third,  the  thirty-fourth,  and  part  of  the  first  session  of  the  thirty-fifth  Congress. 
He  very  strongly  opposed  the  Nebraska-Kansas  bill,  and  argued  against  it  that 
wherever  the  government  obtained  the  right  to  acquire  territory,  there  they  got 
the  right  to  control  it.  Mr.  Banks  also  came  somewhat  conspicuously  before  the 
country  by  the  part  he  took  in  the  debate  brought  on  by  a  resolution  in  refer 
ence  to  the  society  of  "  Know-Nothings,"  as  to  whether  or  no  the  pope  claimed  a 
temporal  power  over  the  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  thirty-fourth  Congress,  parties  were  pretty  well 
broken  up  and  complicated,  and  a  great  difficulty  \vas  found  in  the  choice  of  a 
Speaker.  For  nine  weeks  the  organization  of  the  House  was  delayed  by  the 
obstinacy  of  party  men.  Finally,  it  was  determined  that  the  recipient  of  a  plu 
rality  of  votes  should  be  declared  Speaker;  and,  in  accordance  with  this  rule 
Mr.  Banks  was  chosen  to  the  position.  Mr.  Banks  presided  over  the  delibera 
tions  of  the  House  with  marked  ability  and  fairness;  or,  in  the  words  of  a 
Southern  member,  he  "stood  so  straight,  that  he  almost  leaned  over  to  the 
other  side."  On  the  adjournment  of  Congress,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  passed, 
upon  the  acceptable  manner  in  which  he  had  discharged  the  difficult  duties  of 
his  position. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Banks  was  elected  governor  of  his  native  state,  and  resigned 
his  scat  in  the  House  on  the  24th  of  December.  To  his  new  position  he  did  such 
honor,  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1857,  and  again  in  1858.  During  three  terms  he 
administered  the  government  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts  with  eminent  wisdom, 
and  finally  retired  from  that  position  crowned  with  the  high  respect  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  of  all  parties  throughout  the  state ;  a  more  striking  example  than  any 
other  chapter  of  our  American  history  furnishes,  of  the  dignity  and  honor  to 
which  native  energy  and  genius  may  attain. 


240  NATHANIEL     PRENTISS     BANKS. 

Soon  after  the  expiration  of  his  third  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Banks  deter 
mined  to  abandon  the  field  of  politics,  and  with  that  view  removed  from  his 
native  state  to  that  of  Illinois,  where  he  became  associated  in  the  conduct  of  a 
railroad.  In  that  sphere  he  continued  until  the  war  actually  broke  out,  when  he 
again  became  "a  public  man." 

He  was  appointed  a  major-general  in  the  United  States  army,  May  30th, 
1861,  and  his  appointment  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  on  the  3d  of  Au 
gust.  Major- Generals  M'Clellan  and  Fremont  were  confirmed  on  the  same  day. 
Previous  to  his  confirmation  (June  10th),  General  Banks  was  ordered  to  the 
command  of  the  department  of  Annapolis,  with  his  head-quarters  at  Baltimore. 
In  this  command  he  superseded  General  Cadwallader,  who  was  appointed  'to  a 
division  destined  to  co-operate  with  General  Patterson  toward  Harper's  Ferry. 
Upon  General  Banks's  accession  to  the  command  at  Baltimore,  the  treasonable 
element  of  the  population  there,  while  believed  to  be  very  active  in  the  further 
ance  of  schemes  for  revolt,  was  certainly  very  quiet.  Butler  had  fairly  scotched 
the  serpent  of  secession  in  that  city ;  but  under  the  lax  rule  of  Cadwallader,  it 
had  revived.  Yet  the  leaders  were  prudent,  and  the  transference  of  the  command 
to  a  new  officer  was  a  sufficient  indication  that  the  government  was  dissatisfied 
with  the  easy  manner  in  which  they  had  been  dealt  by,  and  they  became  cau 
tious.  But  on  June  27th  they  were  surprised,  and  the  whole  people  of  the  loyal 
states  gratified,  by  an  energetic  act  of  the  new  commander.  At  three,  A.  M.,  on 
that  day,  George  P.  Kane,  marshal  of  police  of  Baltimore,  was  arrested  at  his 
house,  and  imprisoned  in  Fort  M'Henry.  In  explanation  of  this  act,  General 
Banks  issued  on  the  same  day  a  proclamation,  superseding  Marshal  Kane  and 
the  board  of  police,  in  which  he  said :  "I  desire  to  support  the  public  authorities 
in  all  appropriate  duties  ....  and  in  every  municipal  regulation  and  public  stat 
ute  consistent  with  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States  and  of  Mary 
land.  But  unlawful  combinations  of  men,  organized  for  resistance  to  such  laws, 
that  provide  hidden  deposits  of  arms  and  ammunition,  encourage  contraband 
traffic  with  men  at  war  with  the  government,  and,  while  enjoying  its  protection 
and  privileges,  stealthily  await  opportunity  to  combine  their  means  and  forces 
with  those  in  rebellion  against  its  authority,  are  not  among  the  recognized  or 
legal  rights  of  any  class  of  men,  and  cannot  be  permitted  under  any  form  of  gov 
ernment  whatever.  Such  combinations  are  well  known  to  exist  in  this  depart 
ment The  chief  of  police  is  not  only  believed  to  be  cognizant  of  these  facts, 

but  in  contravention  of  his  duty,  and  in  violation  of  law,  he  is,  by  direction  or 
indirection,  both  witness  and  protector  to  the  transactions  and  the  parties  engaged 
therein.  Under  such  circumstances,  the  government  cannot  regard  him  other 
wise  than  as  the  head  of  an  armed  force  hostile  to  its  authority,  and  acting  in 
concert  with  its  avowed  enemies."  For  these  reasons,  Marshal  Kane  was  super- 


NATHANIEL   PRENTISS   BANKS.  241 

scded  and  held  a  prisoner ;  and  Colonel  Kenly,  of  the  first  Maryland  regiment, 
was  appointed  provost-marshal  of  the  city  of  Baltimore,  "to  superintend  and 
cause  to  be  executed  the  police  laws."  Against  this  action  of  General  Banks  the 
board  of  police  protested,  and  pronounced  it  "an  arbitrary  exercise  of  military 
power,  not  warranted  by  any  provision  of  the  constitution  or  laws  of  the  United 
States."  They  declared  also  that  there  was  a  suspension  of  the  police  law,  and 
that  the  men  of  the  police  force  were  off  duty,  and  thus  in  retaliation  virtually 
invited  a  reign  of  lawlessness.  General  Banks,  in  response  to  this  protest,  pub 
lished  a  letter  of  instruction  to  Marshal  Kenly,  by  which  he  required  him  "  to 
take  especial  notice  that  no  opinion,  resolution,  or  other  act  of  the  late  board  of 
commissioners,  can  operate  to  limit  the  effective  force  of  the  police  law,  or  to 
discharge  any  officer  engaged  in  its  execution."  Yet  the  police  board,  though 
thus  superseded  and  dissolved  by  the  military  commandant,  "continued  their 
sessions  daily,  refused  to  recognize  the  officers  and  men  selected  by  the  provost- 
marshal  for  the  protection  of  the  city,  and  held  subject  to  their  orders  the  old 
police  force,  a  large  body  of  armed  men,  for  some  purpose  not  known  to  the  gov 
ernment,  and  inconsistent  with  its  peace  and  security."  For  the  preservation  of 
the  public  peace,  therefore,  General  Banks  caused  the  arrest,  on  July  1st,  1861, 
of  all  the  members  of  the  police  board,  whose  head-quarters  were  found  upon 
examination  to  resemble  "in  some  respects  a  concealed  arsenal ;"  and  to  antici 
pate  any  action  of  their  adherents,  he  at  the  same  time  moved  a  portion  of  the 
force  under  his  command,  hitherto  encamped  beyond  the  city  limits,  into  the  city. 
On  the  10th  of  July,  General  Banks  appointed  a  permanent  police  marshal  in 
the  place  of  Colonel  Kenly,  and,  trouble  being  no  longer  feared  from  the  seces. 
sion  plotters,  ordered  the  military  occupation  to  cease,  and  the  regiments  to 
occupy  their  former  positions  in  the  suburbs.  Complete  tranquillity  was  thus 
once  again  established  in  Baltimore. 

Major-General  Patterson,  of  the  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  in  command  in  the 
Valley  of  Virginia,  was  honorably  discharged  by  general  order,  his  term  of  ser 
vice  being  expired,  on  July  19th.  On  the  same  day,  General  John  A.  Dix,  of 
the  United  States  army,  was  ordered  to  relieve  General  Banks  in  the  command  at 
Baltimore,  and  General  Banks  was  ordered  to  assume  command  of  the  army 
under  Patterson.  His  department  was  designated  the  department  of  the  Shenan- 
doah,  with  its  head-quarters  in  the  field.  General  Banks  reached  Harper's  Ferry 
and  assumed  the  command  of  his  department,  July  25th.  This  army,  when  the 
battle  of  Bull  Eun  was  fought,  had  numbered  fourteen  thousand  effective  men. 
But  it  was  composed,  in  the  greater  part,  of  the  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  enlisted 
for  three  months,  whose  terms  expired  about  the  period  that  General  Banks  was 
placed  in  command.  He  was  thus  left  with  only  the  skeleton  of  an  army,  to 
cover  the  approach  to  Washington  most  favorable  for  the  rebels,  and  to  hold  in 


242  NATHANIEL      PRENTISS      BANKS. 

check  all  that  portion  of  the  rebel  force  which  had  not  accompanied  General 
Johnson  to  Manassas  previous  to  the  battle  at  Bull  Run. 

Immediately  on  his  assumption  of  the  command,  General  Banks  withdrew 
his  troops  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac,  and  formed 
his  camp  in  a  strong  position  under  the  Maryland  Heights,  and  near  to  Sandy 
Hook.  There  his  force  was  rapidly  organized,  and  increased  by  the  addition  of 
well-disciplined  regiments,  until  it  amounted  in  all  to  about  twenty-five  thousand 
men ;  and  in  this  position  he  continued,  still  occupied  with  the  organization  and 
discipline  of  his  force,  up  to  the  movement  into  Virginia,  in  1862. 

Early  in  May,  1861,  when  the  President  had  just  called  out  seventy-five 
thousand  men  for  three  months,  and  long  before  the  country  at  large  realized  the 
magnitude  of  the  rebellion,  Mr.  Banks,  then  a  simple  citizen  of  Chicago,  expressed 
a  very  strong  opinion  of  the  inadequacy  of  the  measures  taken  by  the  government 
to  put  down  the  revolt.  His  words  then  spoken,  and  subsequently  published  by 
the  "  Chicago  Tribune,"  are  as  follows : 

"  This  rebellion  cannot  be  put  down  by  the  force  which  the  government  has 
now  called  out.  Seventy-five  thousand  militia  will  prove  wholly  inadequate  to 
restore  peace  to  the  country.  The  government,  and,  he  feared,  the  people  of  the 
loyal  states,  immensely  underrated  the  strength  and  means  which  the  rebel  chiefs 
can  command.  This  is  a  rebellion  of  the  slave-power  against  a  republican  form 
of  government.  That  political  element  which  has  been  strong  enough  to  rule 
this  nation  for  fifty  years,  cannot  be  reduced  to  subjection  to  the  constitution  by 
a  few  regiments  of  militia.  Before  this  gigantic  slaveholders'  conspiracy  can  be 
crushed,  it  will  tax  to  the  utmost  the  power  and  endurance  of  the  nation.  The 
people  will  have  to  put  forth  an  effort  which  has  no  parallel  in  modern  times. 
He  regarded  this  as  the  most  formidable  as  well  as  atrocious  rebellion  which  has 
occurred  since  the  middle  ages.  The  Sepoy  insurrection  was  no  circumstance  to 
it,  either  in  strength  or  wickedness.  The  Sepoys  did  not  revolt  for  the  purpose 
of  strangling  free  government  and  setting  up  a  slave  despotism,  as  the  authors  of 
the  secession  rebellion  have  done. 

"  The  Sepoys  were  reduced  to  obedience  in  a  few  months  by  less  than  eighty 
thousand  British  troops.  Four  times  that  many  will  not  suffice  to  crush  out  the 
slaveholders'  revolt  against  the  Union.  If  he  was  at  the  head  of  public  affairs, 
he  would  call  out  five  hundred  thousand  men  for  the  war.  He  would  charter 
every  merchant  steamer  and  ship  fit  for  naval  service.  As  soon  as  the  army  was 
equipped,  and  prepared  to  march,  he  would  start  one  column  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  men  from  Washington  to  Richmond.  Simultaneously,  he  would 
move  another  column  of  one  hundred  thousand  Western  men  down  the  Missis 
sippi,  to  reach  Memphis  by  the  time  the  Eastern  army  got  to  Richmond.  He 
would  send  a  division  of  fifty  thousand  men  from  Louisville  to  Nashville,  to 


NATHANIEL      PREXTISS      BANKS.  243 

support  and  protect  the  Union  men  of  central  and  eastern  Tennessee,  and  the 
mountain  country  of  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  North  Carolina.  Before  these  col 
umns  moved,  he  would  fit  out  an  expedition  by  sea,  and  place  fifty  thousand 
soldiers  aboard  the  fleet,  to  hover  along  the  Southern  coast  from  Charleston  to 
Galveston.  This  would  keep  the  rebels  at  home  in  the  coast  states,  as  they 
would  be  in  constant  dread  of  a  visit  to  every  port,  not  knowing  where  the  fleet 
might  land  the  army.  This  force  on  shipboard,  Mr.  Banks  thought,  would  com 
pel  to  remain  in  their  own  states  four  times  the  men  in  the  expedition.  It  would 
be  a  movable  column,  which,  by  the  aid  of  wind  and  steam,  might  be  off  Charles 
ton  to-day,  and  land  at  Savannah  to-morrow.  Hence  its  power  and  efficiency. 

"  The  remaining  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  troops  he  would  distribute 
in  divisions  at  Washington,  New  York,  St.  Louis,  Baltimore,  and  other  points, 
to  act  as  reserves  and  supports  wherever  the  exigencies  of  the  campaign  might 
most  need  them.  He  would  keep  recruiting  offices  open  wherever  a  regiment 
had  been  raised,  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  in  the  ranks  caused  by  battle  or  sickness. 
He  would  call  upon  the  people  to  organize  a  national  home  guard  of  half  a  mill 
ion  men,  to  take  care  of  traitors  in  their  midst,  and  to  put  their  shoulders  to  the 
wheel  for  a  final  effort,  if  it  were  found  that  the  first  half-million  were  not  able 
to  crush  out  the  foul  rebellion." 

"  "When  asked  how  he  would  procure  the  money  necessary  to  equip  and 
support  so  vast  an  army,  he  promptly  replied :  '  Open  a  national  loan,  as  the 
Emperor  Napoleon  did,  and  appeal  to  the  patriotism  of  the  whole  people ;  take 
all  sums  offered,  from  the  widow's  mite  up  to  Astor's  millions.  The  treasury 
would  be  abundantly  supplied  by  the  subscriptions  of  the  masses.  Only  let  the 
people  see  that  the  government  is  in  real  earnest  in  its  purpose  to  put  down  the 
rebellion,  and  it  will  not  call  on  Hercules  for  help  in  vain.'  " 

On  the  eighth  of  February,  1862,  General  Banks  commenced  active  opera 
tions  by  moving  up  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  driving  the  rebels  before  him. 
He  had  advanced  as  far  as  Harrisonburgh,  when  an  order  from  the  War  Office 
directed  him  to  send  a  portion  of  his  troops  to  reeenforce  McDowell,  and  to  re 
treat  to  Strasburgh.  The  rebels  immediately  followed  him  in  strong  force,  but  he 
succeeded  in  reaching  Williamsport  without  material  disaster,  on  the  twenty-sixth 
of  May. 

In  June,  his  forces  were  consolidated  with  those  of  General  McDowell,  and 
placed  under  General  Pope ;  and,  on  the  eighth  of  August,  General  Banks  suc 
cessfully  fought  the  rebels  under  Jackson  and  Ewell,  at  Cedar  Mountain,  where 
his  persona^,  bravery  and  good  management  were  conspicuous. 

During  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  General  Banks  was  stationed  on  the 
extreme  left  of  Pope's  line,  as  a  reserve.  Shortly  after  the  battle,  he  was  ap 
pointed  to  the  military  command  at  Washington.  There  he  remained  until  sent, 


244  NATHANIEL      PKENTISS      BANKS. 

in  November,  1862,  to  relieve  General  Butler  in  the  department  of  the  South- 
West.  He  arrived  at  New-Orleans  on  December  seventeenth,  and  immediately 
despatched  an  expedition  to  Baton  Kouge,  which  was  retaken,  and  one  to  Galves- 
ton  in  Texas,  which  met  with  defeat. 

His  future  operations  up  the  Teche  and  Atchafalaya  were  of  such  a  prompt 
and  energetic  character  as  to  cause  a  most  disastrous  defeat  to  the  enemy  in  every 
engagement.  At  Bute  la  Kose  the  batteries  were  silenced,  one  thousand  five 
hundred  prisoners  taken,  besides  the  salt-works  of  Petite  Anse,  and  a  number 
of  rebel  gunboats  were  destroyed. 

On  May  twenty-third,  1863,  he  invested  Port  Hudson,  and  placed  it  in  a  state 
of  siege,  finally  compelling  it  to  surrender  unconditionally  on  the  eighth  of  July. 
Soon  after  he  ordered  the  enforcement  of  the  enrolment  act  in  his  department, 
and  then  prepared  to  accompany  his  forces  into  Texas,  leaving  New-Orleans  on 
the  twenty-seventh  of  October,  with  a  fleet  of  about  twenty  vessels  accompanied 
by  gunboats. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  October,  he  landed  at  Brazos  Island,  and  after  various 
successes  in  other  places,  Corpus  Christi  was  captured  on  the  fifteenth  of  Novem 
ber,  and  two  days  after  the  city  of  Aransas.  General  Banks  afterward  returned 
to  New-Orleans,  leaving  the  forces  in  Texas  under  command  of  General  Dana. 

In  March,  1864,  he  recommenced  active  operations,  and  on  the  twenty-second 
he  departed  for  the  Bed  Kiver.  On  the  way  he  landed  at  Port  Hudson,  and  in 
spected  the  negro  troops  and  fortifications.  He  thence  proceeded  to  Alexandria, 
where  he  established  his  headquarters,  and  immediately  went  on  to  Grand  Ecore. 

On  the  eighth  of  April,  the  enemy  was  encountered  in  superior  force  at  the 
Sabine  Cross-Roads,  and  after  a  gallant  resistance  the  Union  troops  were  repulsed. 
General  Banks  was  present  throughout  the  fight,  and  showed  his  accustomed 
coolness  and  bravery.  At  a  council  of  war,  it  was  decided  to  withdraw  the  troops 
to  Pleasant  Hill,  where  General  A.  J.  Smith  had  arrived.  The  enemy  followed, 
but  on  renewal  of  the  battle  on  the  following  day,  were  severely  defeated.  At 
this  time,  the  Red  River  was  lower  than  it  had  been  known  for  years,  and  in 
consequence,  it  was  deemed  advisable  for  the  army  to  fall  back  without  delay 
upon  Alexandria,  where  it  arrived  on  the  fourth  of  May.  Meanwhile  the  gun 
boats  that  had  ascended  the  river  were  caught  by  the  receding  waters  and  detained 
above  the  falls,  until,  through  the  remarkable  skill,  ingenuity,  and  indefatigable 
labors  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bailey,  acting  engineer  of  the  Nineteenth  corps,  in 
constructing  a  dam,  they  were  released.  The  army  then  evacuated  Alexandria, 
and  descended  toward  Simmsport,  at  the  mouth  of  Red  River,  whqre  General 
Banks  arrived  on  the  sixteenth  of  May.  General  Canby  also  arrived  there  from 
Washington  to  assume  command  of  military  operations,  and  General  Banks  re 
turned  to  New-Orleans. 


PHILIP    KEAK^Y. 

MAJOE-GENEEAL  KEAENY  was  bom  in  New- York  City,  June  second,. 
1815.  His  father  was  a  descendant  of  an  Irish  family  long  settled  in  New- 
Jersey,  and  his  mother  a  daughter  of  John  Watts,  the  founder  of  the  Leake  and 
Watts  Orphan  House.  From  boyhood  he  manifested  a  strong  preference  to  a 
military  career ;  nevertheless,  in.  obedience  to  the  wishes  of  his  family,  he  passed 
through  Columbia  College,  and  began  to  study  law.  By  the  time  he  was  twenty- 
two,  however,  his  soldierly  propensities  got  the  better  of  him,  and  he  obtained  a 
commission  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  First  dragoons,  then  commanded  by  his 
uncle,  Stephen  Watts  Kearny,  the  conqueror  of  New-Mexico  and  California,  who 
died,  a  brevet  Major-General,  in  1848.  He  saw  much  hard  service  with  his  gal 
lant  relative,  chiefly  fighting  the  Indians  on  the  Western  frontier,  and  acquired 
such  a  reputation  as  a  cavalry  officer  that  about  1838  or  1839  he  was  sent  abroad 
by  our  Government  to  study  and  report  upon  the  French  cavalry  tactics.  With 
this  object  in  view  he  entered  the  celebrated  cavalry  school  at  Saumur,  and  soon 
afterward  went  to  Algeria,  to  witness  the  operation  of  the  French  system  in  the  field. 
Lieutenant  Kearny,  however,  was  not  a  man  who  could  be  an  idle  spectator  of  a 
battle.  Joining  the  First  Chasseurs  d'Afrique  as  a  volunteer,  he  fought  through 
Marshal  Yalee's  campaign  against  the  Arabs,  was  present  at  the  forcing  of  the 
passes  of  the  "  Gates  of  Iron,"  and  by  several  dashing  exploits  won  the  cross  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor.  He  was  the  idol  of  his  brother  officers,  who  loved  him  for 
his  companionable  qualities  and  admired  his  heroic  bravery. 

Eeturning  home  in  1840,  he  was  appointed  in  November  of  that  year  aid-de 
camp  to  General  Macomb,  and  in  December,  1841,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Scott. 
lie  had  already,  while  in  Europe,  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant, 
and  in  1846  he  became  Captain.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Mexican  war  he  was 
ordered  with  his  squadron  (he  had  resigned  his  staff  appointment)  to  Mexico, 
where  his  dragoons  formed  the  body-guard  of  General  Scott.  Splendidly  equipped 
and  mounted,  at  -their  Captain's  private  expense,  Kearny's  Horse  were  the  pride 
of  the  army,  and  in  several  engagements  covered  themselves  with  distinction. 
In  the  Yalley  of  Mexico  Captain  Kearny  commanded  his  regiment,  and  for  his 
gallantry  at  Contreras  and  Churubusco  received  the  brevet  of  Major.  After  the 
latter  engagement  he  pursued  the  flying  Mexicans  as  far  as  the  gates  of 'the  City  of 
Mexico.  Here  his  troops,  checked  by  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery,  began  to  waver, 


246  PHILIP      KEARNY. 

whereupon  Kearny  daslied  forward  alone  ;  the  soldiers  followed  him,  and  the  bat 
tery  was  taken.  In  this  affair,  for  which  General  Scott  bestowed  upon  him  the 
highest  praise,  Kearny  lost  his  left  arm. 

After  the  conclusion  of  peace  he  was  again  ordered  to  the  AYestern  frontier, 
and  commanded  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  of  the  Columbia  River.  In 
1851  he  resigned  his  commission  and  went  to  Europe.  In  retirement  he  pursued 
his  professional  studies  with  all  his  former  ardor,  associating  constantly  with  mili 
tary  men,  and  making  his  hospitable  house  at  Paris  the  rendezvous  especially  of 
such  officers  of  the  United  States  army  as  pleasure  or  duty  chanced  to  bring  to 
Europe.  There  might  be  met  Beauregard,  Lee,  the  Johnstons,  Jackson,  and 
others  now  distinguished  in  the  rebel  army. 

When  the  Italian  war  began,  he  joined  the  staff  of  the  French  General  Moms 
as  a  volunteer  aid,  was  present  at  Magenta  and  Solferino,  and  conducted  himself 
with  such  gallantry  that  the  Emperor  bestowed  upon  him  a  second  decoration  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor. 

The  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter  in  the  spring  of  1861  brought  him,  as  might 
have  been  expected,  immediately  to  America.  He  offered  his  services  to  General 
Scott,  was  received  with  warmth,  and  soon  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  put  in 
command  of  a  New-Jersey  brigade  in  General  Franklin's  division  of  the  army  of 
the  Potomac.  His  commission  as  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers  was  dated  May 
seventeenth,  1861.  On  the  organization  of  army  corps,  in  March,  1862,  he  was 
attached  to  the  First  corps,  General  McDowell,  but  soon  afterward  he  was  pro 
moted  to  the  command  of  a  division  in  Heintzelman's  (the  Third)  corps,  with 
which  he  served  throughout  the  Chickahominy  campaign.  In  the  battle  of  Wil- 
liamsburgh,  after  Hooker  had  been  for  an  hour  or  two  struggling  against  an  over 
whelming  force  in  front  of  Fort  Magruder,  Kearny  was  ordered  to  his  relief. 
Five  guns  had  already  been  lost  and  ammunition  was  beginning  to  give  out,  when 
Kearny,  after  a  six  hours'  march,  succeeded  by  the  greatest  exertions  in  passing 
Casey's  troops  and  pushing  to  the  front  through  the  deep  mud.  "He  at  once 
gallantly  attacked,"  said  General  McClellan,  "and  thereby  prevented  the  loss  of 
another  battery,  and  drove  the  enemy  back  at  every  point,  enabling  General 
Hooker  to  extricate  himself  from  his  position,  and  withdraw  his  wearied  troops." 
In  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  and  the  famous  seven  days'  fight  his  gallantry  was  uni 
versally  admired,  and  soon  afterward  he  was  commissioned  a  Major-General, 
dating  from  July  fourth.  His  troops  were  the  first  to  join  General  Pope  after 
McClellan  was  withdrawn  from  the  Peninsula,  leaving  Yorktown  on  the  twenty- 
first  of  August,  1862,  and  uniting  with  the  army  of  Virginia  at  Warrenton  Junc 
tion  on  the  twenty -third.  Three  days  afterward  the  confederate  General  Jackson 
made  his  celebrated  attack  upon  Pope's  rear  at  Catlett's  Station,  compelling- the 
Federal  commander  to  abandon  the  line  of  the  Rappahannock  and  fall  back  to 


PHILIP      REAR  NY.  247 

Manassas  Junction.  McDowell  at  the  same  time  was  ordered  to  Gainesville  to 
intercept  any  reinforcements  coming  to  Jackson  by  way  of  Thoroughfare  Gap, 
while  Kearny  and  Reno  followed  some  miles  in  his  rear  in  order  to  support  him. 
This  movement  had  the  desired  effect.  Longstreet,  who  was  on  his  way  to  join 
Jackson,  was  compelled  to  retire  west  of  the  Bull  Run  Mountains,  and  Pope 
pushed  on  toward  Centreville  with  Kearny,  Reno,  and  Hooker.  McDowell  joined 
them  here  with  his  main  force,  and  at  dawn  on  the  twenty  -ninth  the  battle  of 
Centreville  was  begun.  Kearny  fought  with  the  greatest  desperation  throughout 
that  da}-,  and  again  on  the  thirtieth,  when  the  corps  to  which  he  was  attached 
held  the  right  of  the  Federal  line.  Toward  nightfall  Franklin  and  Sumner  arrived 
upon  the  field,  but  the  battle  was  not  renewed,  and  on  the  first  of  September  the 
army  fell  back  to  Fairfax  Court-House. 

On  the  evening  of  that  day  the  enemy  directed  an  attack  upon  the  right  of 
our  line,  near  Germantown,  where  most  of  the  supply-trains  were  stationed,  their 
evident  intention  being  to  get  around  in  Pope's  rear  and  cut  his  communications 
with  Washington.  Reno's  division  was  ordered  to  attack  their  advancing  col 
umns,  and  Kearny 's,  though  it  had  been  fighting  all  day,  to  advance  and  support 
Reno.  Thus  began  what  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Chantilly.  The  firing  soon 
became  heavy,  and  General  Birney  sent  word  to  Kearny  that  Reno's  troops  had 
given  way  upon  his  left,  leaving  a  gap  which  the  rebels  were  hastening  to  occupy. 
Telling  his  orderly  and  aids  to  keep  back,  Kearny  rode  forward  alone,  to  examine 
the  position  himself.  He  never  came  back.  His  men,  supposing  him  a  prisoner, 
engaged  the  enemy,  repulsed  them,  and  covered  our  retreat  until  three  o'clock 
the  next  morning,  when  the  train  having  been  wi|hdrawn,  they  retired  in  order. 
A  few  hours  afterward  the  General's  body,  shot  through  by  a  musket-ball  from 
the  hip  to  the  breast,  was  sent  within  the  Federal  lines  under  a  flag  of  truce. 

The  energy  and  dashing  spirit  of  Kearny,  his  frequent  exposure  of  his  person, 
and  almost  proverbial  bravery,  gave  him  a  reputation  as  a  "fighting  general" 
which  lowered  somewhat  unduly  his  popular  standing  as  a  scientific  soldier.  He 
was  not  only  a  man  of  dash,  but  a  skilful  tactician  and  an  able  strategist.  He 
was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  but  the  idol  of  his  men,  and  the  apparent  recklessness 
with  which  he  rushed  into  every  danger  was  the  means  which  he  deliberately 
chose  to  inspirit  them.  "  I  am  daily  and  hourly  exposed,"  he  wrote,  the  day  be 
fore  his  death  ;  "  I  do  not  so  expose  myself  from  a  spirit  of  rash  folly,  but  because 
my  men  need  the  example." 


BENJAMIN   F.    BTJTLEK. 

•   :.lQ'      • 

LITERATURE  and  Art  are  the  children  of  Peace.  Diplomacy,  strategy, 
and  valor,  flourish,  only  in  the  shadow  of  turbulent  events.  It  is  only 
amid  the  angry  clashing  of  antagonistic  interests,  that  such  men  as  tHe  subject 
of  this  sketch  develop  and  achieve  distinction. 

BENJAMIN  F.  BUTLER  was  born  in  Deerfield,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  5th 
of  November,  1818.  His  father,  John  Butler,  who  served  in  some  capacity  in 
the  War  of  1812,  was  of  Irish  descent.  Young  Butler's  boyhood  was  passed  at 
Lowell,  Massachusetts,  where  he  attended  the  High  School,  preparatory  to  be 
coming  a  student  at  the  Exeter  Academy.  He  graduated  with  honors  at  Water- 
ville  College,  studied  law  in  the  office  of  "William  Smith,  Esq.,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1846. 

Butler  at  once  plunged  into  law  and  politics,  pursuing  both  with  equal 
ardor,  and  displaying  the  adroitness  and  energy  which  have  always  characterized 
him.  He  speedily  made  his  mark  in  Middlesex  as  one  of  the  prominent  men  of 
the  county.  He  espoused  the  most  desperate  causes,  and  became,  in  court,  the 
leader  of  forlorn-hopes.  His  ^Singular  fertility  in  expedients,  and  success  in  de 
fending  rather  awkward  suits,  brought  him,  in  time,  a  more  respectable  clientele, 
and  he  soon  won  the  reputation  of  being  the  ablest  criminal  lawyer  in  the  state. 

In  1853,  Butler  was  nominated  for  the  legislature,  and  elected ;  in  1858,  he 
was  elected  to  the  senate ;  in  1860,  we  find  him  playing  a  prominent  role  as  dele 
gate  to  the  Charleston  and  Baltimore  conventions,  fulfilling  the  mission  with  his 
usual  tact  and  skill. 

During  all  these  years,  the  combative  lawyer  and  politician  had  been  taking 
lessons  in  "the  school  of  the  soldier."  Butler  had  always  possessed  and  evinced 
a  taste  for  military  life.  In  1840,  he  was  a  private  in  the  Lowell  City  Guards, 
now  immortalized  by  their  share  in  the  memorable  conflict  at  Baltimore,  on  the 
19th  of  April,  1861.  In  1857,  he  was  appointed  brigadier-general  in  the  state 
militia.  Destiny  was  preparing  him  for  his  subsequent  career.  The  hour  was 
approaching  when  his  alert  brain  and  strong  hand  were  to  be  worth  untold  gold. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1861,  General  Butler  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  re 
spond  to  the  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  volunteers,  keenly  appreciating  the 
important  aspect  of  affairs,  and  not  unmindful,  possibly,  of  the  opportunity 


\\.\.\    GEN    BENJ     I'     BUTLF.R 


BENJAMIN    F.    BUTLER.  249 

afforded  for  military  distinction.  He  eagerly  availed  himself  of  it.  With  a 
single  regiment,  the  Massachusetts  eighth,  he  marched  into  Maryland,  embarked 
on  board  a  steamer,  made  a  descent  upon  Annapolis,  then  the  enemy's  country, 
and  held  it.  The  war  department  immediately  created  the  department  of  An 
napolis,  extending  to  within  seven  miles  of  "Washington,  and  including  Baltimore. 
General  Butler  was  installed  commander,  with  the  rank  of  major-general. 

He  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  He  strengthened  his  exposed  position  in 
all  possible  ways,  setting  his  soldiers — the  ci-devant  blacksmiths  and  jacks-of-all- 
trades — to  construct  locomotives,  build  bridges,  and  make  railroads.  He  took 
possession  of  the  Kelay  House,  fortifying  himself  there  with  the  Massachusetts 
sixth,  tSfe  New  York  eighth,  and  Cook's  Boston  battery,  controlling  the  great 
channel  of  communication  between  the  insurgents  in  Baltimore  and  the  rebels  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  He  seized  the  famous  steam-gun,  and  turned  it  on  the  enemy. 
General  Butler  then  marched  into  Baltimore,  accompanied  by  the  two  regiments 
and  the  battery  mentioned;  intrenched  himself  on  the  highest  point  of  land, 
overlooking  the  whole  city ;  issued  his  proclamation  of  protection  to  all  loyal 
ists  ;  arrested  traitors ;  seized  arms  and  munitions  of  war ;  and  rode  through  the 
perilous  streets  at  the  head  of  a  single  company  of  the  gallant  Massachusetts 
sixth,  which  the  mob  had  so  grievously  assaulted  only  three  weeks  before.  His 
campaign  here  was  a  brilliant  one  in  every  respect. 

In  pursuance  of  Special  Order  No.  9,  dated  at  Fortress  Monroe,  the  head 
quarters  of  the  department  of  Virginia,  August  20th,  1861,  General  Butler  as 
sumed  command  of  the  volunteer  forces  in  that  vicinity.  While  occupying  this 
post,  the  lamentable  affair  at  Little  Bethel,  and  the  more  disastrous  repulse  at 
Big  Bethel,  occurred,  and  General  Butler  was  superseded  by  General  Wool. 

On  the  1st  day  of  the  following  September,  the  war  department  "  authorized 
Major-General  B.  F.  Butler  to  raise,  organize,  arm,  uniform,  and  equip  a  volun 
teer  force  for  the  war,  in  the  New  England  states,  not  exceeding  six  regiments." 
Two  days  later,  the  war  department  authorized  him  "to  fit  out  and  prepare  such 
troops  in  New  England  as  he  may  judge  fit  for  the  purpose,  to  make  an  expedi 
tion  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Virginia,"  etc.,  etc.  In  carrying  out  these  plans, 
a  series  of  embarrassing  conflicts  arose  between  General  Butler  and  Governor 
Andrew.  Much  bitter  feeling  was  generated.  Eecruiting  was  retarded  in  con 
sequence,  and  delay  followed  delay.  This  is  neither  the  tme  nor  the  place  to 
more  than  allude  to  the  unfortunate  controversy. 

At  length,  on  the  20th  of  February,  1862,  General  Butler  left  Boston  for 
Ship  Island,  in  Mississippi  Sound,  at  which  destination  he  arrived  on  the  23d 
of  March,  with  a  force  of  fifteen  thousand  men,  to  attack  New  Orleans.  Leaving 
Ship  Island  on  the  17th  of  April,  with  a  portion  of  his  command,  he  went  up  the 
Mississippi,  and,  after  the  surrender  of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  proceeded 


250  BENJAMIN      F.     BUTLER. 

to  New  Orleans,  which  city  lie  entered  with,  twenty-five  hundred  men  on  the 
evening  of  the  1st  of  May. 

Here  General  Butler  again  loomed  up  as  the  man  for  the  hour.  His  execu 
tive  ability,  his  ready  wit,  decision,  unflinching  justice,  and,  in  short,  all  the 
peculiar  powers  of  his  mind,  came  into  play.  That  he  should  have  made  some 
false  steps,  where  so  many  perplexing  claims  came  in  contact,  does  not  admit  of 
surprise.  No  man  could  have  done  better,  few  so  well.  General  Butler's  course 
in  New  Orleans  was,  from  the  first,  necessarily  a  stringent  one.  He  suppressed 
The  Delta  and  Tlie  Bee,  for  advocating  destruction  of  produce ;  arrested  several 
British  subjects,  for  affording  aid  to  the  rebels;  seized  a  large  amount  of  specie 
belonging  to  the  enemy,  in  the  office  of  the  consul  for  the  Netherlands  ^  stopped 
the  circulation  of  confederate  paper-money ;  distributed  among  the  suffering  poor 
the  provisions  intended  for  the  support  of  the  Southern  army ;  levied  a  tax  on 
rebel  sympathizers ;  gave  care  and  protection  to  Mrs.  Beauregard,  whom  he  found 
in  the  house  of  Mr.  Slidell ;  and  issued  that  celebrated  and  characteristic  procla 
mation  respecting  active  female  traitors,  which  at  once  extirpated  a  most  annoy 
ing  nuisance.*  He  found  the  city  demoralized.  He  shaped  order  out  of  chaos. 

*  Sympathizers  wJth  the  South  claimed  to  be  greatly  outraged  by  tliis  order.  The  English  press 
became  eloquently  vituperative  on  the  subject ;  and  General  Butler  was  induced  to  explain,  in  a  private 
letter,  the  motives  which  constrained  him  to  issue  the  proclamation.  The  following  is  the  general's 
characteristic  epistle : 

"HEAD-QUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  GULP,  NEW  ORLEANS,  July  2d,   1862. 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR:  I  am  as  jealous  of  the  good  opinicta  of  iny  friends  as  I  am  careless  of  the  slanders 
of  my  enemies,  and  your  kind  expressions  in  regard  to  Order  No.  28  lead  mo  to  say  a  word  to  you  on 
the  subject. 

"  That  it  ever  could  have  been  so  misconceived  as  it  has  been  by  some  portions  of  the  Northern 
press  is  wonderful,  and  would  lead  one  to  exclaim  with  the  Jew,  '  0  Father  Abraham,  what  these  Chris 
tians  are,  whose  own  hard  dealings  teaches  them  suspect  the  thoughts  of  others!' 

"What  was  the  state  of  things  to  which  the  woman  order  applied? 

""We  were  two  thousand  five  hundred  men  in  a  city  seven  miles  long  by  two  to  four  wide,  of  a 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  inhabitants — all  hostile,  bitter,  defiant,  explosive — standing  literally  on  a 
magazine ;  a  spark  only  needed  for  destruction.  The  devil  had  entered  the  hearts  of  the  women  of  this 
town  (you  know  seven  of  them  chose  Mary  Magdalen  for  a  residence),  to  stir  up  strife  in  every  way 
possible.  Every  opprobrious  epithet,  every  insulting  gesture  was  made  by  these  bejewelled,  becrinolined. 
and  laced  creatures,  calling  themselves  ladies,  toward  my  soldiers  and  officers,  from  the  windows  of 
houses  and  in  the  streets.  How  long  do  you  suppose  our  flesh  and  blood  could  have  stood  this  without 
retort  ?  That  would  lead  to  disturbances  and  riot,  from  which  we  must  clear  the  streets  with  artillery ; 
and  then  a  howl  that  we  murdered  these  fine  women !  I  had  arrested  the  men  who  hurrahed  for  Beau- 
regard.  Could  I  arrest  the  women ?  No.  "What  was  to  be  done?  No  order  could  be  made  save  one 
that  would  execute  itself.  "With  anxious,  careful  thought  I  hit  upon  this:  'Women  who  insult  my 
soldiers  are  to  be  regarded  and  treated  as  common  women  plying  their  vocation.' 

"  Pray,  how  do  you  treat  a  common  woman  plying  her  vocation  in  the  streets  ?  You  pass  her  by 
unheeded  She  cannot  insult  youl  As  a  gentleman,  you  can  and  will  take  no  notice  of  her.  If  she 

32 


BENJAMIN       F.      BUTLER.  251 

He  has  been  the  Government's  faithful  servant,  and  his  services  will  link  his 
name  for  ever  with  that  of  the  Crescent  City.  It  was  a  fortunate  day  for  New- 
Orleans  when  "  Picayune  Butler  came  to  town."  The  people  who  hate  him  can 
hardly  help  admiring  him  ! 

•  General  Butler  saved  the  city,  not  only  from  its  own  suicidal  madness,  but 
from  the  dread  visitation  of  that  malignant  fever  which  has  periodically  changed 
the  crowded  metropolis  into  one  vast  charnel-house.  That  the  yellow-fever  would 
lay  the  invading  Yankees  at  the  mercy  of  their  enemies,  was  the  prayer  and  ex 
pectation  of  every  noble  son  and  daughter  of  the  South.  One  "eminent  divine" 
in.  the  conquered  city  was  heard  to  remark,  that  strong  as  was  his  belief  in  special 
providential  dispensations,  that  faith  would  receive  a  severe,  perhaps  a  fatal  shock, 
if  the  sickness  did  not  become  epidemic  in  New-Orleans,  the  approaching  sum 
mer.  Fortunately,  Providence  and  the  Major- General  commanding  warded  off 
that  calamity.  Sanitary  science  had  long  interested  General  Butler.  His  inves 
tigations  led  him  to  adopt  the  theory  that  the  yellow-fever  is  indigenous  in  no 
region  where  there  is  frost  every  winter.  There  is  frost  every  winter  throughout 
the  United  States.  He  therefore  argued  that  the  yellow-fever  is  brought  from 
tropical  ports.  He  at  once  established  such  rigorous  quarantine  laws  as  again 
brought  him  in  conflict  with  the  testy  representatives  of  "neutral"  powers.  The 
fever  raged  at  Nassau,  Havana,  and  other  neighboring  ports ;  but  New-Orleans 
escaped  untouched. 

While  General  Butler  was  deeply  engaged  in  elaborating  plans  for  the  farther 
benefit  of  the  people  of  Louisiana,  he  was  abruptly  superseded  by  General  Banks. 

speaks,  her  words  are  not  opprobrious.  It  is  only  when  she  becomes  a  continuous  and  positive  nuisance 
that  you  call  a  watchman  and  give  her  in  charge  to  him. 

"  But  some  of  the  Northern  editors  seem  to  think  that  whenever  one  meets  such  a  woman,  one  must 
stop  her,  talk  with  her,  insult  her,  or  hold  dalliance  with  her ;  and  so  from  their  own  conduct  they  con 
strued  my  order. 

"  The  editor  of  the  Boston  Courier  may  so  deal  with  common  women,  and  out  of  the  abundance  of 
the  heart  his  mouth  may  speak ;  but  so  do  not  I. 

"  Why,  these  she-adders  of  New  Orleans  themselves  were  at  once  shamed  into  propriety  of  conduct 
by  the  order;  and,  from  that  day,  no  woman  has  either  insulted  or  annoyed  any  live  soldier  or  officer,  and 
of  a  certainty  no  soldier  has  insulted  any  woman. 

"When  I  passed  through  Baltimore,  on  the  23d  of  February  last,  members  of  my  staff  were  insulted 
by  the  gestures  of  the  ladies  (?)  there.  Not  so  in  New  Orleans. 

"  One  of  the  worst  possible  of  all  these  women  showed  disrespect  to  the  remains  of  gallant  young 
Do  Kay ;  and  you  will  see  her  punishment — a  copy  of  the  order  of  which  I  enclose — is  at  once  a  vindica 
tion  and  a  construction  of  my  order. 

"  I  can  only  say  that  I  would  issue  it  again  under  like  circumstances.     Again  thanking  you  for  your 

kind  interest,  I  am  truly  your  friend, 

"BENJAMIN  F.  BUTLER,  Major- General  commanding." 


252  BENJAMIN     F       BUTLER. 

Considering  the  success  and  importance  of  his  labors,  the  following  order  relieving 
him  of  his  command,  reads  rather  coldly  : 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ) 
WASHINGTON,  November  9,  1862.  ) 

GENERAL   ORDER    No.  184. 

BY  direction  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Major-General  Banks  is 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  including  the  State  of 
Texas.  By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War, 

E.  D.  THOMAS,  Assistant  Adjt. -General. 
II.  W.  HALLECK,  General-in-Chief. 

The  precise  reason  of^General  Butler's  recall  has  not,  up  to  the  present  moment, 
been  made  known  to  him. 

On  his  return  home,  every  city  he  passed  through  gavfc  him  such  honorable 
welcome  as  is  given  only  to  heroes.  For  a  time  he  reposed  in  the  shade  of  his 
laurels. 

General  Butler  was  not,  however,  destined  to  remain  long  inactive.  He 
superseded  General  Foster  at  Fortress  Monroe,  to  participate  in  the  present  great 
campaign  against  Eichmond  under  General  Grant.  Which  statement  brings  our 
brief  summary  of  General  Butler's  services  down  to  July,  1864. 

As  a  man,  General  Butler  is  of  a  warm,  impulsive  temperment,  generous, 
combative,  and  brusque.  As  a  politician,  he  is  earnest  and  formidable.  As  an 
advocate,  he  has  never  ranked  with  the  leaders  of  the  Massachusetts  bar,  though 
his  success  as  a  criminal  lawyer  is,  perhaps,  without  parallel.  As  an  orator,  he 
is  fluent  and  effective,  but  seldom  eloquent.  He  is  apt  at  reading  character,  and 
sometimes  applies  his  knowledge  with  consummate  shrewdness.  As  a  soldier, 
he  has  evinced  many  very  high  qualities :  he  has  undertaken  and  performed 
various  onerous  duties  with  such  eclat,  that  none  but  his  most  ungenerous  politi 
cal  adversaries  can  withhold  their  commendation. 


t 


~^\A— ^L    / 

/  lUrf^ 


LOVELL-  HAKRISON  ROUSSEAU. 

IOVELL  HARRISON  ROUSSEAU  was  born  in  Lincoln  County,  Ken- 
J  tucky,  in  1820.  He  is  descended  from  a  Huguenot  family,  who  emigrated 
from  France  to  America  after  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  and  settled  in 
Virginia,  where  his  ancestors  for  many  generations  resided.  By  the  mother's  side 
he  is  connected  with  the  Gaineses  and  the  Peiidletons  of  that  State.  His  father 
was  a  first  cousin  of  President  Harrison. 

His  parents  were  too  poor  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  indeed  he 
never  went  to  school  after  he  was  ten  years  old.  When  he  was  thirteen  his  father 
died,  leaving  a  large  family  of  young*children  unprovided  for.  Lovell,  being  the 
eldest  son  then  at  home,  obtained  work  on  a  macadamized  road  from  Lexington 
to  Lancaster.  His  education  had  not  been  entirely  neglected.  With  the  help  of 
his  mother  and  sisters  he  had  continued  his  studies  after  leaving  school,  and  even 
begun  the  study  of  French ;  and  now  he  used  to  write  out  his  French  verbs  at 
night,  and  when  he  went  to  his  work  in  the  morning,  spread  the  paper  out  before 
him,  with  a  stone  upon  it  to  prevent  it  from  blowing  away,  and  learned  the  conju 
gations  while  he  beat  rock. 

In  1840,  he  removed  to  the  neighborhood  of  Louisville,  and  began  to  study 
law.  He  had  no  help  or  direction  from  any  one,  and  never  was  asked  a  question 
or  had  a  conversation  on  the  subject  of  his  studies  until  he  offered  himself  to  be 
examined  for  a  license.  For  about  six  months  he  applied  himself  closely  to  his 
books,  reading  law  fourteen  hours  and  history  two  hours  every  day.  This  in 
tense  application  brought  on  a  severe  sickness,  and  after  several  months'  confine 
ment  he  arose  from  his  bed  with  only  five  dollars  and  a  half  in  the  world,  and  no 
prospect  of  having  more  until  he  could  earn  it  at  the  bar.  He  resolved  to  go  to 
Indiana,  thinking  he  could  combine  study  with  practice  much  sooner  there  than 
in  Kentucky.  He  did  not  know  a  man  in  the  State ;  but  having  made  up  his 
mind  to  settle  at  Bloomfield,  he  started  afoot,  with  all  his  worldly  goods  tied  up 
in  his  cloak  and  swung  over  his  shoulder.  Arrived  at  his  place  of  destination,  he 
went  to  the  principal  hotel,  frankly  told  the  landlord  that  he  had  no  money,  but 
would  have  plenty  some  day,  and  asked  if  he  would  trust  him.  The  worthy  host 
consented,  and  treated  his  guest  so  generously  then  and  on  many  subsequent 
occasions  as  to  win  his  lasting  gratitude. 


254  LOVELL   HARRISON   ROUSSEAU. 

After  a  little  more  study,  young  Eousseau  applied  to  Judge  McDonald  for  a 
license.  At  the  end  of  a  long  examination,  the  Judo^e  said  :  "  Sir,  you  are  not  a 

<^j  O  '    v 

lawyer,  but  you  will  make  one  ;  I  will  give  you  a  license,  though  you  do  not 
deserve  it."  The  Judge  was  not  deceived.  Mr.  Rousseau  did  make  a  lawyer, 
and  took  a  very  fair  position  at  the  bar  from  the  start.  In  1844  and  1845  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Indiana  Legislature,  in  which  he  exerted  great  influence. 
Raising  a  company  of  volunteers  for  the  Mexican  war  in  1846,  he  was  commis 
sioned  Captain  in  the  Second  Indiana  volunteers  —  the  same  regiment  which  suf 
fered  so  severely  at  Buena  Vista.  Captain  Rousseau  lost  more  than  a  quarter  of 
his  men,  but  brought  his  company  in  good  order  off  the  field,  and  was  highly 
complimented  in  the  official  report  of  his  commanding  officer,  Colonel  Humphrey 
Marshall.  Immediately  after  his  return  home,  he  was  elected  to  the  Indiana 
Senate  by  an  immense  majority  in  a  Democratic  district,  although  he  had  always 
been  a  Whig.  Before  his  term  of  office  expired,  he  removed  to  Louisville  in 
1849,  but  his  Indiana  constituents  would  not  allow  him  to  resign. 

A  Kentucky  lawyer  in  those  days  had  need  of  many  qualifications  besides 
a  knowledge  of  the  law.  If  he  would  defend  an  unpopular  cause,  he  must  be 
able  to  stand  fire  ;  for  while  his  professional  opponents  confronted  him  in  court 
with  Kent  and  Blackstone,  the  mob  was  very  apt  to  assail  him  outside  with  bul 
lets  and  gunpowder.  Mr.  Rousseau  had  all  the  requirements  for  such  a  career, 
and  he  still  carries  in  his  body  a  leaden  memento  of  his  experience  at  the  Louis 
ville  bar.  His  defence  of  the  Joyce  negroes,  indicted  for  murder,  was  a  striking 
instance  of  his  readiness  to  face  popular  odium  and  grave  bodily  danger  in  the 
discharge  of  his  professional  duty.  The  intrepid  and  chivalric  spirit  which  always 
prompted  him  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  weak  and  friendless,  and  which,  in  his 
subsequent  military  career,  has  won  for  him  the  sobriquet  of  "the  Bayard  of  the 
West,"  we  may  be  sure  was  not  without  its  influence  over  Kentucky  juries.  It 
was  in  jury  trials  especially  and  in  the  management  in  court  of  difficult  cases  that 
he  made  his  reputation. 

In  1860,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Kentucky  Senate,  receiving  the 
nomination  of  both  parties.  When  the  doctrine  of  neutrality  was  broached  in  the 
Legislature,  he  strenuously  opposed  it,  holding  that  Kentucky  was  in  duty  bound, 
as  a  member  of  the  Union,  to  put  forth  all  her  energies  in  support  of  the  Govern 
ment.  Being  overruled  in  this,  he  went  to  Washington  and  obtained  authority 
to  raise  troops  in  Kentucky.  But  even  the  Union  men  of  his  State  opposed  him. 
"  Old  friends,"  said  he,  "  whom  I  had  known  well  for  many  years,  passed  me  in 
the  public  streets  of  my  own  city  without  recognition,  because  they  had  turned 
traitors  and  I  had  remained  loyal  to  the  Government  of  our  fathers.  This  state 
of  things  growing  worse  daily,  I  finally  resolved  to  speak  to  no  one  who  did  not 
first  speak  to  me.  I  walked  the  streets  of  my  own  city  as  if  in  a  strange  town, 


LOVELL   HARRISON   ROUSSEAU.  255 

and  little  as  I  love  battles  and  danger,  I  would  prefer  fighting  a  battle  once  a 
month  to  going  through  what  I  did  in  raising  my  brigade. 

"  The  leading  men  of  the  State  who  were  for  the  Government  met  at  Louis 
ville,  and,  after  mature  deliberation,  resolved  that  it  was  impolitic  to  enlist  sol 
diers  here  at  that  time.  I  was  instructed  from  Washington  to  act  in  harmony 
with  the  Union  men  of  the  State.  With  much  reluctance  I  abandoned  the  pro 
ject  of  enlisting  my  soldiers  on  Kentucky  soil,  and  went  to  camp  'Jo  Holt,'  in 
Indiana. 

Eousseau's  two  regiments,  known  as  the  Louisville  Legion,  were  ordered  to 
Missouri.  "And  then,"  said  he,  "my  friends  who  had  rather  stood  aloof  awoke 
and  came  forward,  and  wisely,  as  events  showed,  and  got  the  President  to  coun 
termand  the  order.  Soon  after,  Buckner  came  into  the  State  with  his  army  of 
double  traitors— traitors  to  their  State  and  to  the  nation— and  on  the  memorable 
night  of  the  seventeenth  of  September  we  crossed  the  Ohio  River  and  marched  out 
under  General  Sherman  to  meet  them.  By  some  means  that  ardent  desire  of  our 
hearts  was  never  fulfilled,  but  Buckner  never  came  to  Louisville." 

For  this  service  he  was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers,  Octo 
ber  first,  1861.  Attached  to  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  under  General  Buell,  he  shared 
in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  where  the  official  reports  of  Buell,  Sherman,  and  McCook 
paint  his  conduct  in  the  most  glowing  colors,  and  speak  of  him  as  having  "won 
the  admiration  of  the  whole  army."  He  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  operations 
which  led  to  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  and  in  the  last  skirmish  which  took  place 
there  was  hotly  engaged  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  works.  Being 
afterward  assigned  the  command  of  a  division  in  McCook's  corps,  he  earned  pro 
motion  to  the  rank  of  Major-General  by  his  gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Perry ville, 
October  eighth,  1862  ;  his  commission,  which  was  not  made  out,  however,  until  the 
following  March,  dating  from  the  day  of  the  battle.  He  commanded  a  division 
under  General  Thomas  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  December  thirty-first  to  Janu 
ary  second,  1862-3,  in  his  report  of  which  General  Rosecrans  complimented  him 
as  "the  ever-ready  Rousseau." 

A  great  part  of  the  interval  between  this  and  the  following  campaign  General 
Rousseau  spent  in  raising  a  force  of  mounted  infantry,  which,  as  it  was  supposed, 
would  prove  of  great  service  in  suppressing  guerrilla  warfare.  He  is  now  in  com 
mand  of  the  Military  District  of  Tennessee. 

In  person,  General  Rousseau  is  tall,  well-proportioned,  and  athletic.  When 
a  youth,  his  achievements  as  a  wrestler  and  foot-racer  were  a  theme  of  admiration 
for  the  Kentucky  woodsmen  among  whom  he  lived,  and  he  still  retains  his  activi 
ty  and  power  of  endurance  unimpaired. 


JAMES     E.     B.     STTJABT. 

THE  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  in  Patrick  County,  Virginia,  about  the 
year  1829.     In  his  youth  he  gave  evidence  of  many  qualities  that  fitted  him 
for  the  position  he  afterward  occupied.     His  father  was  Archibald  Stuart,  Mem 
ber  of  Congress  for  a  Virginia  district,  but  who  died  in  the  year  1854. 

Young  Stuart  received  a  good  education,  and  entered  the  West-Point  Acade 
my  m  1850.  In  1854,  he  received  a  commission  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  a 
mounted  rifle  corps  of  the  United  States  army.  One  year  afterward  he  was  trans 
ferred  to  the  First  regular  cavalry,  with  General  J.  E.  Johnston  as  his  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  and  the  gallant  Union  Genera  Sumner  as  his  Colonel.  Under  them 
Stuart  fought  in  the  wilds  of 'New-Mexico,  now  engaging  with  tribes  of  hostile 
Indians,  now  hunting  up  hordes  of  lawless  banditti,  and  ever  performing  some 
dashing  and  fearless  exploit.  Soon  he  became  noted  amongst  his  compeers  for 
these  bold  and  skilful  charges  upon  a  wily  and  dangerous  foe.  On  the  twenty- 
ninth  July,  1857,  he  was  wounded  in  a  severe  fight  with  three  hundred  braves  of 
the  Cheyenne  tribe,  who  were,  however,  defeated. 

In  May,  1861,  PresidenfcLincoln  appointed  Lieutenant  Stuart  to  a  captaincy 
in  the  cavalry  of  the  United  States  ;  but,  in  common  with  many  other  South 
ern  officers,  he  declined  the  appointment  and  went  over  to  the  rebel  army,  where 
he  wras  made  Colonel  of  a  Virginia  cavalry  regiment. 

In  July,  1861,  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  he  commanded  all  the  cavalry 
attached  to  Beauregard's  and  Johnston's  armies,  and  did  good  service  to  the  con 
federate  cause. 

On  September  eleventh,  1861,  Stuart,  in  command  of  infantry,  artillery,  and 
cavalry,  succeeded  in  routing  a  Union  force  at  Lewinsville,  Va.  For  this  he  was 
highly  complimented  in  a  general  order  by  Longstreet  and  Johnston,  and  was  ap 
pointed  a  Brigadier-General. 

In  December,  1861,  he  was  at  the  attack  upon  the  Union  forces  at  Drains- 
ville,  and  after  this  appears  to  have  gone  South  in  winter  quarters  toward  Rich 
mond. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  Peninsula  war  of  1862,  Stuart  made  several  cavalry 
expeditions,  culminating  in  that  most  famous  raid,  during  June,  through  and 
around  General  McClellan's  army.  He  started  from  the  Richmond  lines  with  a 


JAMES      E.      B.      STUART.  257 

force  of  six  hundred  sabres  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  made  his  way  through  the 
Federal  outposts,  and  reached  the  Pamunkey  River  beyond.  There  he  destroyed 
a  great  quantity  of  Government  supplies,  made  several  captures,  and  created  no 
small  amount  of  alarm.  He  then  turned  round  toward  the  Chickahominy,  fully 
encompassing  the  Union  army,  and,  after  some  difficulty  as  regards  crossing  the 
river,  finally  succeeded  in  reaching  the  confederate  lines  again  in  safety,  with  no 
material  loss  to  his  men.  Thereupon,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major-Gen 
eral  in  the  rebel  army,  and  placed  in  command  of  a  division  of  cavalry. 

Barely  two  months  later  he  was  again  at  work  with  one  of  his  remarkble  ex 
ploits.  On  the  twenty-second  of  August,  General  Pope  was  at  Catlett's  Station, 
Va.,  with  the  Union  forces,  when  in  the  midst  of*  a  heavy  storm,  Stuart  dashed  in 
upon  his  right  flank,  penetrated  to  headquarters,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  im 
portant  papers,  besides  taking  the  private  effects  and  dress-uniform  of  Pope  and 
several  of  his  officers.  In  the  beginning  of  the  following  October,  only  seven 
weeks  after  this  exploit,  Stuart  made  a  bold  dash  into  Pennsylvania. 

General  Lee,  commanding  the  rebel  army,  then  in  camp  near  Winchester, 
Va.,  gave  Stuart  orders  to  attempt  a  cavalry  expedition  into  Maryland.  On  the 
ninth. of  October,  Stuart  issued  an  address  to  his  command,  enjoining  "implicit 
obedience  to  orders,  without  question  or  cavil,  and  the  strictest  order  and  sobrie 
ty  on  the  march  and  in  bivouac."  He  also  told  his  men  that  the  destination  and 
extent  of  the  expedition  would  be  better  kept  to  himself.  He  then  gave  an 
order  directing  brigade  commanders  to  make  arrangements  for  seizing  horses,  etc., 
the  property  of  persons  under  the  United  States  flag,  but  that,  in  every  case,  a  re 
ceipt  was  to  be  given  showing  such  seizure  to  be  for  the  confederate  service.  All 
individual  plunder  for  private  use  was  forbidden.  Public  functionaries  were  to 
be  made  prisoners,  but  to  be  kindly  treated  ;  and  all  persons  in  transit  to  be  de 
tained  until  his  command  had  passed  in  safety. 

He  started  with  a  cavalry  force  of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  men,  and  four 
pieces  of  horse  artillery.  The  expedition  rendezvoused  at  Darksville  and  marched 
to  Hedgesville,  where  they  camped  for  the  night.  At  daylight  of  the  tenth  Octo 
ber,  Stuart  crossed  the  Potomac  at  McCoy's,  (between  Williamsport  and  Hancock,) 
meeting  with  some  little  opposition  from  a  small  detachment  of  the  Federals 
stationed  there.  Thence  he  struck  northward  till  reaching  the  road  to  Hagers- 
town,  which  he  crossed  and  went  on  to  Mercersburgh,  arriving  there  at  noon. 
Then,  after  a  short  rest,  he  proceeded  toward  Chambersburgh.  What  followed 
there  may  be  best  related  from  an  account  given  by  Colonel  A.  K.  McClure,  of 
that  city. 

He  says  that,  after  ascertaining  the  rebel  cavalry  had  really  crossed  the  Poto 
mac,  astonishing  every  one  by  such  audacity,  improvised  pickets  were  placed  on 
the  several  roads  by  which,  as  it  was  supposed,  they  might  enter.  Night  came 


258  JAMES      E.      B.      STUART. 

on  ;  the  rain  was  pouring  down  in  torrents  ;  and  citizens  with  muskets  were  run 
ning  to  and  fro,  without  any  organization.  Presently  the  clattering  of  hoofs  was 
heard  on  the  western  pike,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  rebel  advance  was  in  the 
centre  of  the  town.  They  bore  a  flag  of  truce,  and  required  that  Chambersburgh 
should  be  surrendered  to  the  confederate  forces. 

As  there  was  no  Union  garrison  or  soldiers  there,  Colonel  McClure  and  three 
other  citizens  responded,  after  consultation  with  their  fellow-townsmen.  They 
accompanied  the  rebel  escort  back  on  the  road  for  a  mile  to  where  General  Hamp 
ton  was  found,  in  command  of  Stuart's  advance.  There  every  respect  and  cour 
tesy  were  shown  to  McClure  and  his  companions,  who,  as  a  deputation  from  Cham 
bersburgh,  formally  surrendered  the  town.  Stuart .  and  his  force  soon  afterward 
entered  and  took  possession,  but  though  some  eight  hundred  horses  were  seized, 
and  public  property  destroyed  to  about  the  value  of  three  hundred  thousand  dol 
lars,  nothing,  of  a  different  kind,  belonging  to  private  persons  was  touched. 

About  seven  A.M.  next  day  the  rebel  advance  moved  on  toward  Gettysburgh. 
But,  until  the  whole  of  his  force  left,  General  Stuart  remained  on  horseback  in 
the  centre  of  the  town,  surrounded  by  his  staff,  seeing  his  orders  executed.  In 
one  or  two  instances  his  men  commenced  taking  private  property  from  stores,  but 
they  were  immediately  arrested  by  Stuart's  provost-guard,  and,  according  to  Colo 
nel  McClure,  the  rebel  General  left  behind  him  a  reputation  for  being  a  kind  and 
humane  soldier. 

From  Chambersburgh  Stuart  marched  toward  Gettysburgh,  but,  on  passing 
the  Blue  Eidge,  he  turned  back  toward  Hagerstown  for  six  or  eight  miles,  then 
crossed  into  Maryland  by  Emmittsburgh.  Thence  they  proceeded  by  Frederick, 
and,  crossing  the  Monocacy,  continued  the  march  all  night  via  Liberty,  New-Mar 
ket,  Monrovia,  and  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Eailroad,  cutting  wires  and  tearing  up 
the  track.  At  daylight  they  reached  Ilyattstown,  and  proceeded  thence  toward 
Poolesville,  but,  at  two  or  three  miles  off,  turned  into  the  woods,  and  finally  suc 
ceeded  in  recrossing  the  Potomac  at  White's  Ford,  whence  they  soon  afterward 
got  back  to  Lee. 

This  successful  raid  of  Stuart's  naturally  gave  him  a  high  reputation  in  the 
rebel  army,  and  we  find  him  again  actively  engaged  almost  directly  after  his  re 
turn.  On  the  fifth  of  November  he  encountered  Pleasanton  at  the  Barbee's  Cross- 
Roads,  and  had  a  fight  with  that  bold  cavalry  officer.  In  December,  at  the  battle 
of  Fredericksburgh,  Stuart,  with  two  brigades  of  cavalry  and  artillery,  covered  the 
flank  of  the  confederate  line  on  the  right,  and  opened  a  most  destructive  fire 
on  the  advancing  Federals.  Shortly  afterward  he  crossed  the  Rappahannock, 
above  Burnside's  army,  and  attacked  Dumfries,  Va.  He  then  advanced  toward 
Alexandria,  burned  Accotink  Bridge,  then  passed  north  of  Fairfax  Court-House, 


JAMES      E.      B.      STUART.  259 

and  finally  returned  to  Culpeper,  with,  two  hundred  prisoners  and  twenty-five 
wagons. 

In  March,  1863,  Stuart  was  at  the  rebel  headquarters,  in  command  of  all  the 
cavalry,  when  Mosby  made  a  dashing  raid,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  Brigadier- 
General  Stoughton,  of  the  Union  army.  He  then  issued  a  congratulatory  order 
on  the  result,  in  which  he  speaks  of  Mosby  in  terms  of  high  commendation. 

After  this,  in  May,  we  find  that  Stuart  was  sent  for  to  take  control  of  Stone 
wall  Jackson's  corps,  when  he  and  his  immediate  successor,  General  A.  P.  Hill, 
were  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville. 

On  June  ninth  he  had  another  encounter  with  Pleasanton  at  Beverly  Ford  ; 
and  on  the  twenty-eighth,  accompanied  Lee  toward  Maryland,  but  was  left  to 
guard  the  passes  of  the  mountains  and  harass  Hooker's  army.  This  he  did  with 
his  usual  daring  and  skill,  marching  in  various  directions  and  doing  considerable 
damage.  Finally  he  reached  Carlisle,  and  shared  in  the  battle  of  Getty sbiirgh, 
ultimately  retreating  by  the  way  of  Williamsport  to  the  South. 

In  October,  Stuart  again  moved  forward.  He  advanced  to  Madison  Court- 
House,  and  on  the  eleventh  had  an  engagement  with  the  Federal  cavalry  under 
Buford.  Seven  days  afterward  he  had  a  fight  with  Meade's  cavalry,  and  after  this 
fell  back  into  winter  quarters  with  the  rebel  army. 

We  now  come  to  a  period  when  the  daring  exploits  of  Stuart  were  to  have 
an  end.  It  is  well  known  that  at  the  outset  of  our  present  war  the  advantage  of 
cavalry  was  not  seen  as  it  is  now.  But  Stoneman,  Grierson,  Kilpatrick,  Ouster, 
Gregg,  Torbert,  and  Sheridan  have  nobly  demonstrated  its  immense  benefit  to  our 
armies.  The  latter  General,  during  the  late  battles  in  the  Wilderness,  (1864,)  was 
detached  with  his  fine  body  of  cavalry  to  hunt  after  Stuart's  division,  who,  on  the 
sixth  of  May,  had  made  a  demonstration  against  our  forces.  Stuart  was  encoun 
tered  and  driven  back.  He  then  hastily  made  for  Ashland  Station,  on  the  Frede- 
ricksburgh  Railroad,  and  across  the  South  Anna  River,  hotly  followed  by  Sheri 
dan,  whose  cavalry  succeeded  in  arri-ving  there  first  and  doing  considerable  damage. 
Stuart,  finding  the  Union  force  under  Sheridan  had  passed  on  toward  Richmond, 
promptly  pursued,  and,  on  the  morning  of  May  twelfth,  at  a  place  called  the  Yel 
low  Tavern,  met  a  portion  of  the  Federalists  under  General  Wilson  and  Colonel 
Gregg.  Stuart  immediately  put  out  a  line  of  skirmishers  ;  but,  on  seeing  Gregg 
with  his  brigade  preparing  to  charge  on  his  left,  he  and  his  staff  dashed  down  the 
line  to  form  his  men.  At  this  moment,  Gregg  and  his  gallant  fellows  came  thun 
dering  on  toward  Stuart,  whose  well-known  person  was  immediately  recognized. 
Twelve  shots,  at  short-range,  were  quickly  fired  at  him,  while  his  men  were  being 
routed  in  a  short  space  of  time.  Stuart,  with  the  bravery  that  undoubtedly  char 
acterized  him,  promptly  wheeled  round  upon  his  assailants  and  fired  six  shots  in 
succession.  But  the  last  of  the  shots  sent  at  him  struck  the  left  side  of  hia 


260 


JAMES      E.      B.      STUART. 


stomach.  Nerving  himself,  however,  he  still  retained  his  seat  in  the  saddle,  and 
turned  round  to  seek  the  protection  of  his  own  lines.  But,  before  he  reached 
them,  his  wound  overcame  him,  and  he  was  helped  from  his  horse  by  one  of  his 
troopers,  and  thence  carried  to  a  place  of  security.  Subsequently  he  was  taken 
to  Richmond  in  an  ambulance,  and  conveyed  to  the  residence  of  Dr.  Brewer,  a 
relative  of  his,  where  at  twenty-two  minutes  to  eight  o'clock  that  evening 
he  died. 


DAVID     GLASGOW     FABEAGUT. 

AMONG  those  who  have  distinguished  themselves  in  the  defence  of  their 
country  against  her  rebellious  enemies,  in  none  has  patriotism  burned  with 
a  purer  light  or  a  warmer  glow  than  in  Commodore  Farragut.  Born  in  the 
South,  connected  by  marriage  with  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  influential  families 
of  Virginia,  surrounded  by  Southern  associations  and  Southern  ties,  both  of  family 
and  property — he  yet  proved  faithful  and  true  in  the  hour  of  his  country's  trial, 
and  rising  above  local  influence  and  passions,  and  resisting  all  the  temptations  of 
unprincipled  ambition,  devoted  himself  with  single-hearted  zeal  to  the  cause  of 
national  integrity  and  honor. 

David  Glascow  Farragut  was  born  about  the  year  1801,  in  a  town  situated 
twelve  miles  from  Knoxville,  in  East-Tennessee.  His  father  was  a  Major  in  a 
United  States  cavalry  regiment,  and  was  an  intimate  friend  of  General  Andrew 
Jackson.  The  early  years  of  the  future  Rear- Admiral  were  passed  amid  the  dan 
gers  and  vicissitudes  of  border-life,  where  scenes  of  a  thrilling  character  were  not 
unfrequently  enacted,  so  that  while  yet  a  boy  he  became  inured  to  peril  and 
strife.  On  one  occasion  he  was  rescued  from  the  cruel  mercies  of  an  Indian  toma 
hawk  only  by  the  heroic  bearing  of  his  devoted  mother,  who  kept  the  red-faced 
enemies  at  bay  till  her  husband,  with  a  squadron  of  horse,  caused  them  to  take  to 
their  heels. 

A  short  time  previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1812,  Major  Farra 
gut  was  called  to  the  command  of  a  gunboat  at  New-Orleans,  and  thither  he  re 
moved  with  his  family.  Here  was  first  formed  young  David's  taste  for  the  navy ; 
his  only  brother  having  received  an  appointment  as  midshipman,  his  emulation 
to  occupy  a  similar  position  was  instantly  roused.  His  youthful  ambition  was 
soon  gratified  by  Commodore  David  D.  Porter,  who,  pleased  with  the  boy's  ap 
pearance,  took  him  on  board  his  own  ship,  the  far-famed  Essex.  In  a  bloody 
engagement  off  Valparaiso,  between  the  Essex  and  the  two  British  sloops,  Phcebe 
and  Cherub,  the  young  midshipman  distinguished  himself  by  his  his  gallant  be 
havior,  and  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life,  having  fallen  down  a  hatchway  while 
executing  one  of  the  Commodore's  orders.  When  it  was  decided  to  surrender 
the  brave  little  brig,  David  was  sent  to  throw  overboard  the  signal-book,  lest  it 
should  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands,  the  signal-master  being  missing.  Young  Far 
ragut  behaved  throughout  the  action  with  a  manly  spirit,  but  when  he  saw  the 


262  DAVID      GLASGOW      FARRAGUT. 

American  colors  hauled  down  in  token  of  defeat  he  burst  into  tears,  nor  did  he 
willingly  surrender  himself  prisoner  till,  after  a  pugilistic  encounter  with  a  young 
English  "  middy,"  he  had  secured  the  possession  of  a  favorite  pig,  the  pet  of  him 
self  and  his  fellow-sailors. 

When  but  thirteen  years  of  age,  our  hero  was  appointed  master  of  the  Bar 
clay,  one  of  the  British  vessels  which  had  fallen  as  prizes  to  the  Essex.  lie  was 
ordered  to  navigate  her  from  Guayaquil  Bay  to  Valparaiso,  convoyed  by  the 
Essex,  Jr.,  another  prize.  This  arrangement  met  with  opposition  from  Captain 
Randall,  the  former  commander  of  the  Barclay,  who  was  mortified  at  being  under 
the  control  of  a  mere  boy,  and  swore  he  would  not  follow  the  Essex,  Jr.,  into 
port,  and  would  "  shoot  the  first  man  who  touched  a  brace."  Nothing  daunted, 
the  young  master  issued  his  orders  regardless  of  threats,  and  on  overtaking  the 
Essex,  Jr.,  reported  Randall's  conduct,  and  offered,  after  an  investigation,  to  show 
his  independence  by  returning  to  Valparaiso  as  prize-master,  taking  Captain  Ran 
dall  as  an  adviser  in  navigation,  should  the  Barclay  be  separated  from  the  other 
vessels.  This  he  was  permitted  to  do,  and  accomplished  his  object  without  fur 
ther  difficulty. 

On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  he  was  placed  by  Commodore  Porter  at 
Chester,  Pennsylvania,  under  the  tuition  of  one  of  Bonaparte's  Swiss  Guards,  who 
gave  instruction  in  military  tactics  and  athletic  sports,  in  addition  to  the  ordinary 
branches.  While  at  this  school  the  national  capital  was  attacked  by  the  British, 
and  David's  old  companions,  the  crew  of  the  Essex,  passed  through  Chester  on 
their  way  to  its  defence.  Farragut  begged  hard  for  Commodore  Porter's  permis 
sion  to  join  them,  but  the  request  was  denied  on  the  score  that  he  was  too  young 
for  land  fighting. 

After  a  few  years  of  adventurous  life,  the  young  sailor  was.  placed  as  mid 
shipman  on  board  the  Franklin,  a  seventy-four  gun  line-of-battle  ship,  in  1820. 
He  remained  on  this  vessel  till  January  of  the  following  year,  when  we  find  him 
recorded  as  being  off  duty  in  the  city  of  New- York.  Being  now  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  he  passed  his  examination  in  the  "Empire  City,"  and  was  recommended 
for  promotion.  His  position  in  the  navy  remained,  however,  unchanged  till  1825. 
During  the  four  intervening  years,  having  been  ordered  on  the  West-India  station, 
he  made  an  interesting  cruise  after  pirates  in  the  Caribbean  Sea,  and  on  his  return 
was  finally  commissioned  as  Lieutenant  on  the  thirteenth  of  January,  1825.  For 
some  months  succeeding  his  promotion  he  remained  acting  in  his  new  capacity  on 
the  India  station  till  transferred  to  the  Brandywine,  a  forty-four  gun  frigate,  upon 
which  vessel  he  reported  on  the  first  of  January,  1826.  During  the  latter  part 
of  this  year  he  was  ordered  to  the  receiving-ship  at  Norfolk,  Virginia,  where  he 
remained  till  late  in  1828.  He  was  then  ordered  to  the  sloop  Vandalia,  .an  eigh- 
teen-gun  vessel-of-war,  which  joined  the  American  squadron  on  the  coast  of 


DAVID      GLASGOW      FARRAGUT.  263 

Brazil,  lie  remained  on  this  station  about  two  years,  when  he  returned  to  Nor 
folk  and  continued  to  hold  his  former  position  on  the  receiving-ship  during  the 
residue  of  1830,  throughout  1831  and  1832,  and  some  portion  of  1833.  He  was 
next  ordered  to  the  sloop-of-war  Natchez,  then  stationed  on  the  coast  of  Brazil, 
in  the  capacity  of  executive  officer.  On  his  return  to  the  United  States,  about 
the  end  of  1834,  he  obtained  leave  of  absence  for  the  enjoyment  of  an  interval  of 
rest  He  was  not  again  engaged  in  active  public  duty  till  the  year  1838,  when  he 
was  ordered  on  the  West-India  station  for  the  second  time.  He  did  not  remain 
there  long,  however,  for  we  find  him  awaiting  orders  in  the  commencement  of 
18-10,  and  recorded  in  ordinary  at  Norfolk  on  the  first  of  January,  1841.  During 
this  vear,  on  the  eighth  of  September,  he  was  commissioned  a  Commander  in  the 
navv  and  ordered  to  the  sloop-of-wrar  Decatur,  a  sixteen-gun  vessel.  In  her,  Com 
mander  Farragut  sailed  on  his  third  voyage  to  Brazil,  joining  the  squadron  sta 
tioned  there.  He  remained  at  this  post  about  twelve  months,  when  he  was  again 
allowed  absence  on  leave.  During  1843  and  1844  he  was  out  of  active  service 
awaiting  orders,  till  finally  stationed  again  at  the  navy-yard  at  Norfolk,  where  he 
remained  till  1847.  During  this  year  he  wras  ordered  to  the  command  of  the 
sloop-of-war  Saratoga,  carrying  twenty  guns,  then  stationed  on  the  home  squad 
ron.  On  his  return  he  took  up  his  old  position  at  the  Norfolk  Navy- Yard,  where 
he  held  command  second  to  Commodore  Sloat,  He  remained  here  till  1851,  when 
he  was  appointed  Assistant  Inspector  of  Ordnance,  being  second  in  command 
under  Commodore  Skinner.  In  1854  a  new  field  of  service  was  opened  by  the 
establishment  of  a  navy-yard  at  Mare  Island,  near  San  Francisco,  California. 
Commander  Farragut's  name  having  risen,  from  various  causes,  thirty-eight  de 
grees  on  the  navy  roll  since  1843,  and  now  ranking  number  eighteen  on  the  list 
of  commanders,  he  was  ordered  to  the  chief  command  at  Mare  Island,  and  became 
Commandant  of  the  new  navy-yard.  This  position  he  filled  with  distinguished 
ability  till  the  year  1858,  when,  having  been  commissioned  in  September,  1855, 
as  Captain  of  the  United  States  navy,  he  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  the 
steam-sloop  Brooklyn,  a  twenty-five  gun  vessel,  forming  a  portion  of  the  home 
squadron  under  Flag-Officer  McCluney.  Captain  Farragut  was,  however,  removed 
from  this  command  during  the  month  of  May,  1860,  and  the  first  of  January, 
1861,  found  him  again  awaiting  orders  at  Norfolk,  where  he  was  residing  with  his 
family.  With  the  rebellion,  which  first  reared  its  head  during  this  year,  Captain 
Farragut,  notwithstanding  his  Southern  interests,  felt  no  sympathy,  but  expressed, 
with  characteristic  independence  and  warmth,  his  opposition  to  the  course  of  the 
Southern  people.  He  resisted  all  the  flattering  inducements  of  his  many  friends 
to  desert  the  old  flag,  and  closing  his  ears  to  the  voice  of  the  tempters,  determined 
to  leave  with  his  family  the  city,  in  which  he  had  passed  so  many  years  and  go 
where  he  might  live  in  the  peaceful  enjoyment  of  his  patriotic  sentiments.  Ac- 


264  DAVID      GLASGOW      FARRAGUT. 

cordingly,  on  the  eighteenth  of  April,  1861,  the  very  night  before  the  navy-yard 
was  burned  by  the  rebels,  Captain  Farragut  left  Norfolk,  and  proceeded  on  his 
way  to  New-York.  Arriving  at  Baltimore,  he  found  the  railroad  northward  had 
been  destroyed  the  day  before,  and  was  therefore  obliged  to  complete  the  journey 
by  engaging  a  passage  for  himself  and  family  on  a  canal-boat.  On  reaching  New- 
York,  he  immediately  procured  a  cottage  at  Hastings,  on  the  Hudson  River, 
where  he  could  leave  his  family  in  safety,  while  he  remained  ready  for  action  at 
his  country's  call.  Owing  to  the  death  or  desertion  of  some  of  his  associate  cap 
tains  in  the  service,  Captain  Farragut  had  risen  to  number  thirty-one  on  the  roll 
of  captains  in  the  navy.  His  name,  therefore,  in  connection  with  his  past  services 
and  his  fidelity  to  the  Government,  was  quickly  suggested  when  the  expedition 
against  New-Orleans  was  fixed  upon  early  in  1862.  He  was  appointed  Flag-Offi 
cer  of  the  fleet,  and  sailed  as  Eear- Admiral  in  the  flag-ship  Hartford,  for  the  Cres 
cent  City,  which  surrendered,  after  a  desperate  defence,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of 
April.  The  courage  and  skill  displayed  by  Commodore  Farragut  in  this  memo 
rable  engagement,  together  with  the  important  results  which  crowned  his  success, 
won  for  him  the  gratitude  and  admiration  of  a  generous  people.  After  the  cap 
ture  of  New-Orleans,  Commodore  Farragut  continued  in  command  of  the  "Western 
Gulf  blockading  squadron,  superintending  the  attacks  along  the  coast  of  Texas, 
and  conducting  the  naval  operations  on  the  Southern  Mississippi,  at  Port  Hudson, 
and  other  points,  success  alwa}rs  following  in  the  wake  of  the  flag-ship  Hartford. 


GEN.  JAM  E  S    LONG  SIR  K  ET . 


JAMES     LOWGSTEEET. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  entered  as  a  cadet  at 
West-Point  in  1838.  lie  was  breveted  a  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  Fourth 
regular  infantry  on  July  first,  1842.  In  March,  1845,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Eighth  infantry;  and  commanded  a  light  artillery  company  at  Monterey  in  Mex 
ico,  where  he  greatly  distinguished  himself.  He  was  a  First  Lieutenant  in  Febru 
ary,  1847,  and  acted  as  Adjutant  from  June  the  same  year,  till  July,  1849. 

After  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  he  was,  on  the  twentieth 
August,  1848,  made  brevet  Captain  "for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct;"  and 
on  the  eighth  of  September  following,  was  brevetted  a  Major  for  distinguished 
bravery  in  the  battle  of  El  Molino  del  Hey.  He  also  figured  conspicuously  in 
the  assault  on  Chapultepec,  where  he  was  severely  wounded. 

In  1861,  when  the  rebellion  commenced,  Major  Longstreet  immediately 
offered  himself  to  the  rebels,  and  received  an  appointment  under  General  Beaure- 
gard.  At  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  eighteenth,  1861,  his  brigade  covered 
Blackburn's  Ford,  and  he  himself  was  especially  praised  by  the  rebel  commander 
for  his  efforts  on  that  occasion. 

In  March,  1862,  Longstreet  was  with  the  rebel  army,  at  Winchester,  when 
defeated  by  General  Shields.  He  then  accompanied  General  Lee  to  the  Penin 
sula,  and  commanded  the  rear -guard  in  the  retreat  from  Yorktown.  At  Williams- 
burgh  he  vainly  tried  to  arrest  the  onward  progress  of  the  victorious  Federals ; 
and,  in  the  battles  that  followed,  on  and  about  the  Chickahominy,  he  was  con 
spicuous  for  coolness,  bravery,  and  skill. 

In  August,  1862,  when  the  rebel  army  again  moved  North,  Longstreet  was 
directed  to  join  Stonewall  Jackson,  which  he  did,  on  the  twenty-ninth,  by  passing 
thorough  Thoroughfare  Gap.  On  the  following  day  he  shared  in  the  second 
battle  of  Manassas  Plains,  and  then  accompanied  Lee  across  the  Potomac  into 
Maryland,  joining  in  the  battle  of  Antietam.  With  the  rebel  army,  he  then 
retreated  to  Winchester ;  but,  soon  afterward,  he  proceeded  to  Warrenton,  and 
thence  to  Fredericksburgh,  at  which  place  he  commanded  the  left  of  the  rebel 
forces  in  the  attack  made  upon  them  by  Burnside. 

In  April,  1863,  we  find  Longstreet  investing  Suffolk  in  North-Carolina ;  and 
then  again,  in  May,  he  is  at  Chancellorsville  with  his  veteran  soldiers.  From 


266  JAMES      LONGSTREET. 

there  lie  proceeds  once  more  to  Fredericksburgh ;  then  back  to  Culpeper,  and 
thence  with  Lee  again  to  Maryland.  At  the  battle  of  Gettysburgh  he  was  on  the 
right  of  the  rebel  army,  and  opposed  to  General  Sickles.  In  September,  he  was 
sent  to  reenforce  Bragg,  in  East-Tennessee,  and,  on  the  twentieth,  commanded  the 
left  of  the  rebel  army  at  the  battle  of  Chickamagua. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  October,  Grant  took  command  of  the  Department  of 
Tennessee,  the  Union  army  being  then  at  Chattanooga,  and  the  rebel  forces  on 
Lookout  Mountain.  Soon  after  this,  Longstreet  was  detached  from  Bragg  and 
sent  on  an  expedition  against  Knoxville.  Orders  were,  therefore,  forwarded  to 
Burnside,  who  commanded  in  that  department,  to  hire  him  away  as  far  as  possible. 
Accordingly,  Burnside  moved  from  Knoxville  to  meet  Longstreet,  which  he  did 
at  London,  and,  after  a  sharp  Contest,  the  rebels  were  repulsed.  Burnside,  how 
ever,  withdrew  to  Knoxville  to  fortify  his  position  there ;  and  Longstreet  imme 
diately  laid  siege  to  it,  surrounding  the  city  on  the  eighteenth  of  November. 
On  the  twenty-ninth,  reenforced  by  the  troops  of  Jones,  Jackson,  and  "Williams, 
he  made  the  assault.  In  strong  force,  he  charged  upon  General  Ferrero's  position 
at  Fort  Saunders,  but  was  met  by  such  a  murderous  discharge  of  grapeshot  and 
canister,  and  by  Such  a  steady  fire  from  the  Union  rifle-pits,  that  his  troops 
faltered  and  fell  back,  and,  finally,  were  repulsed  with  great  slaughter.  Gene 
ral  Burnside  humanely  offered  a  truce  to  Longstreet,  until  the  evening,  to  afford 
time  for  removing  the  wounded  and  burying  the  dead. 

The  attack  having  failed,  and  hearing  that  Sherman  was  approaching  to  join 
Burnside,  Longstreet  made  a  hasty  retreat  toward  Virginia,  with  the  Union  troops 
in  close  pursuit.  At  Bean's  Station,  on  December  fourteenth,  an  encounter  took 
place,  without  any  material  result ;  and  Longstreet  then  proceeded  to  Redbridge 
and  Bull  Gap,  where  he  made  a  stand,  on  account  of  its  great  natural  advantages. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  December,  General  Averill  succeeded  in  cutting  off 
Longstreet's  communications  with  Eichmond  by  damaging  the  Virginia  and  Ten 
nessee  Railroad  at  Salem,  and  destroying  several  depots  and  wagons  with  rebel 
stores.  But  the  rebels  succeeded  elsewhere  in  capturing  large  quantities  of  Union 
supplies,  which  thus  counterbalanced  it,  and  enabled  Longstreet  to  subsist  his 
army.  In  January,  1864,  he  was  heavily  reenforced,  and  again  made  a  movement 
upon  Knoxville.  On  the  route  a. partial  success  over  a  portion  of  the  Union 
forces  sent  to  intercept  the  rebels,  enabled  him  to  advance  within  a  few  miles  of 
the  city ;  but,  after  some  short  stay  in  the  neighborhood,  he  was  once  more  com 
pelled  to  retreat  to  the  old  position  at  Bull's  Gap,  with  his  headquarters  at  Green 
ville.  Here  he  remained  until,  in  March,  he  was  ordered  to  join  Lee. 

In  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  Longstreet's  corps  was  opposed  to  the 
Union  troops  under  Hancock.  On  Thursday,  May  fifth,  about  four  P.M.,  the 
fight  between  them  began,  and  continued  furiously  till  night.  Hancock,  with  his 


JAMES      LONGSTREET.  267 

accustomed  daring  and  skill,  making  the  most  impetuous  assaults  upon  his  foe, 
who,  however,  were  veterans  of  well-trained  soldiers,  and  thus,  for  a  time,  drove 
back  the  fresh  recruits  of  the  Union  army.  But  the  indomitable  courage  of  our 
troops,  under  Hancock's  own  cyo  and  personal  encouragement,  finally  drove  Long- 
street  back  over  a  mile. 

Next  morning,  at  daylight,  the  fight  was  renewed.  Longstreet  was  reenforced 
by  Lee  sending  some  fresh  troops  to  him,  and  a  part  of  Burnside's  corps  was 
accordingly  detached  to  the  assistance  of  Hancock.  But  the  nature  of  the  battle 
field  was  such,  owing  to  the  quantity  of  timber  and  its  accompanying  under 
growth,  that  the  rebels,  well  acquainted  with  the  ground,  had  an  advantage,  which 
they  turned  to  good  account.  Occupying  a  close  forest,  it  was  found  impossible 
to  dislodge  them,  and  thus  Longstreet  was  able,  about  eleven  A.M.,  to  throw  the 
National  forces  into  some  temporary  confusion,  and  drive  Hancock  back  to  his 
breastworks.  Soon  afterward  the  rebels  succeeded  in  actually  planting  their  colors 
inside  these  breastworks,  but  not  being  able  to  sustain  themselves,  were  soon 
ejected.  The  charge  of  Longstreet  was  completely  overwhelming  and  crushing. 
Solid  masses  of  infantry  were  hurled  upon  Hancock,  line  after  line,  with  an  im 
petuosity  which  nothing  could  withstand.  It  was  exceedingly  fortunate  for  the 
whole  army  that  he  was  checked  at  the  critical  period,  and  driven  back  with  as 
much  precipitation  as  he  came.  In  this  battle,  Longstreet  was  severely  w^ounded 
in  the  neck  or  shoulder,  and  was  removed  to  Lynchburgh  for  quiet  and  proper 
attendance. 


JAMES     LOUIS    PETIQETJ. 

JAMES  LOUIS  PETIGRU  was  born  tenth  May,  1789,  at  Abbeville,  South- 
Carolina.  The  place  had  been  settled  by  his  maternal  grandfather,  Mr.  Gi- 
bert,  a  refugee  from  Bordeaux  on  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes.  He  was 
pastor  of  his  little  band,  and  endured  many  hardships,  ending  in  exile  and  disap 
pointment  for  conscience  sake.  Mr.  Petigru  inherited  the  same  spirit  of  quiet  de 
votion  to  principle,  and  he  was  of  the  stuff  of  which  martyrs  are  made.  His 
father,  a  man  of  the  quaintest  humor,  was  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  where  the 
family  still  resides.  His  physiognomy,  his  wit,  and  mental  endowments  he  derived 
from  his  Celtic  blood.  But  he  was  a  universal  man.  Living  in  a  small  commu 
nity,  among  the  most  prejudiced  people,  there  was  nothing  provincial  about  him. 
His  opinions,  his  manners,  his  ways  of  thinking  were  entirely  his  own.  On  none 
of  the  questions  that  agitated  South-Carolina  did  he  ever  share  the  popular  passion. 
His  mind  rose  far  above  their  delusions,  and  neither  fear  nor  favor  could  ever  in 
fluence  his  judgment.  Yet  his  local  attachment  was  so  strong  as  to  keep  him  all 
his  life  at  that  spot,  although  from  the  time  of  nullification  he  said  he  knew  there 
was  no  State  in  the  Union  where  he  should  have  so  little  political  influence,  and 
after  the  rebellion  broke  out  he  "  regretted  every  day  more  and  more  that  he  had 
not  emigrated  north  of  the  Potomac  forty  years  before."  He  was  the  real  head  of 
the  Union  party  in  nullification.  He  called  the  first  meeting,  consisting  of  him 
self  and  two  others.  They  gathered  all  that  was  wise  and  good  in  the  State,  and 
if  the  battle  with  disunion  had  then  been  fought  out,  happy  would  it  have  been 
for  the  country  and  for  him ;  for  he  would  then  have  seen  the  triumph  of  the 
Constitution,  instead  of  going  out  in  these  dark  days  of  anguish,  when  his  bitter 
lament  was,  that  having  come  in  with  the  Union  he  should  live  long  enough  to 
see  it  broken  up. 

His  opposition  to  the  political  creed  of  the  South  was  fundamental ;  he  was 
a  sincere  Republican.  They  are  Oligarchists  —  he  was  a  Federalist,  and  the 
State  Rights  doctrine  was  his  abhorrence,  though  no  one  would  more  boldly 
have  resisted  any  encroachment  on  the  constitutional  rights  of  the  States.  But 
he  denied  that  there  had  ever  been  the  least  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  Govern 
ment  to  infringe  upon  the  liberties  of  a  State  or  an  individual  up  to  the  time  of 
the  rebellion. 

The  unanimity  of  South-Carolina,  which  is  her  boast,  he  pronounced  the 


I  ,.    PETIG  Rl  ' 


JAMES      LOUIS      PETIGRU.  269 

most  portentous  omen,  for  he  said  that  in  every  healthy-minded  community  dif 
ferences  of  opinion  must  exist,  and  he  regarded  a  stout  minority  as  the  very  bul 
wark  of  government.     His  was  a  passionate  devotion  to  the  Union  ;  what  he  suf 
fered  in  witnessing  the  dereliction  of  his  people  none  may  ever  tell.     The  very 
forbearance  and  respect  which  his  character  commanded  from  his  countrymen 
rendered  his  position  among  them  more  trying  to  him.     Had  he  faltered  or  yielded 
to  the  force  of  public  sentiment,  he  would  have  been  as  a  common  man,  and  he 
would  have  been  in  as  much  danger  of  their  resentment  as  any  other  who  should 
venture  not  to  go  all  lengths  with  them.     That  his  moral  and  physical  courage 
made  him  easily  resist  a  whole  people  in  arms  surprises  no  one  who  knew  his  con 
tempt  for  danger,  and  his  indifference  to  popular  applause.     But  his  affections 
were  peculiarly  tender,  the  sufferings  which  his  mad  neighbors  brought  upon 
themselves  wrung  his  heart,  and  their  affection  for  him  was  the  only  way  to  win 
him,  had  there  been  a  flaw  in  his  virtue.     He  had  to  endure  the  pain  of  seeing 
himself  deserted  by  the  youths  he  had  trained  up,  and  by  the  friends  of  his  life 
time.     The  men  who  had  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  him  in  the  nullification 
times,  all  fell  away,  and  he  heard  those  he  had  been  accustomed  to  honor  utter 
sentiments  the  most  atrocious  and  perverse.     Of  the  young  men  whose  minds  he 
had  so  often  elevated  to  the  contemplation  of  noble  things,  not  one  adhered  to 
him.     Nevertheless,  to  the  very  last  he  hoped  that  when  the  war  should  be  over 
the  arguments  in  favor  of  the  Union  would  address  themselves  better  to  the  under 
standings  of  the  young.     But  no  man  ever  threw  himself  so  unhesitatingly  upon 
his  own  sense  of  right,  and  that  satisfied,  he  abided  with  entire  serenity  the  result. 
He  was  very  genial,  and  his  unaffected  hospitality  is  remembered  with  delight  by 
every  stranger  who  had  the  least  claim  upon  him.     But  his  modesty  was  no  less 
remarkable  than  his  great  intellect.     In  the  practice  of  his  profession  he  seemed 
to  court  only  justice  and  benevolence,  neglecting  to  reap  wealth  and  careless  of 
renown.     His  name  as  a  lawyer  stands  among  the  foremost  in  the  whole  country  ; 
yet  he  made  all  his  great  arguments  in  a  small  place,  and  never  appeared  before 
the  Supreme  Court  but  once.     He  never  held  public  office  but  once,  and  that  was 
the  insignificant  place  of  United  States  Attorney  under  Mr.  Fillmore,  who  through 
Mr.  Webster  thanked  him  for  coming  to  the  rescue  of  the  Government  by  taking 
the  office  to  prevent  the  suspension  of  the  laws,  in  consequence  of  the  incumbent 
resigning  under  pretence  that  no  man  ought  to  hold  an  office  under  the  general 
Government.     It  was  at  a  moment  of  one  of  the  ferments  in  South-Carolina,  and 
every  man  who  coveted  the  place  was  afraid  to  take  it  then.     When  the  tumult 
subsided  Mr.  Petigru  resigned.     In  1849,  he  offered  for  the  Legislature  of  South- 
Carolina,  in  hopes  of  obtaining  some  hold  on  his  State,  but  he  was  not  elected. 
He  had  sat  in  the  Legislature  during  the  nullification  struggle.     When  that  diffi 
culty  was  staved  off,  and  the  parties  dissolved,  he  disapproved  of  giving  up  the 


270  JAMES      LOUIS      PETIGRU. 

organization  of  the  Union  party ;  and  his  wise  foresight  was  justified  in  this. 
For  the  vanity  of  State  Rights  has  blinded  and  led  astray  all  the  men  who  for 
merly  set  their  honorable  pride  in  their  whole  country. 

The  poor  and  the  oppressed  found  in  him  a  zealous  and  untiring  friend.  As 
a  lawyer,  while  exerting  the  utmost  ingenuity  to  present  his  client's  case  in  the 
best  light,  he  was  careful  never  to  substitute  his  own  character  for  any  other 
man's  ;  but  if  ever  he  was  tempted  to  press  a  claim,  and  uncompromisingly  to  ig 
nore  every  thing  but  his  client's  interest,  it  was  in  favor  of  some  poor  woman,  the 
victim  of  a  hard  system,  and  most  generally  not  able  to  pay  any  thing  for  his  serv 
ices.  The  rights  of  the  free  negroes  he  was  always  defending;  he  was  their 
champion  to  whom  they  always  flew  as  a  sure  refuge.  For  the  slaves  he  did  not 
advocate  immediate  emancipation,  but  his  ideas  of  slavery  were  diametrically  op 
posite  to  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  South.  He  considered  it  a  great  social  and 
political  wrong,  and  himself  did  all  he  could  to  relieve  the  condition  of  those  who 
fell  under  his  hand.  He  opposed  the  extension  of  slavery  over  one  foot  of  free 
soil,  and  would  have  been  glad  to  see  it  shut  up  in  the  States  where  it  existed,  to 
die  a  natural  death  of  suffocation. 

He  enjoyed  the  company  of  the  young,  and  never  failed  to  proclaim  to  them 
the  dignity  of  obedience  and  order.  His  brilliant  wit  and  friendly  humor  caused 
old  and  young  to  delight  in  him. 

In  the  autumn  of  1858  he  had  been  appointed  by  the  Legislature  of  South- 
Carolina  to  codify  her  laws.  The  first  part  of  this  task  he  accomplished,  and  pre 
sented  in  1859-60  to  the  very  delegates  who  pronounced  the  famous  ordinance  of 
secession.  Nevertheless,  they  reappointed  him  to  go  on  with  the  code,  and  the 
appointment  was  renewed  the  next  year.  A  special  delegation  was  sent  to 
Charleston  to  receive  his  yearly  work  in  February,  1863,  but  he  never  met  them. 
The  illness  which  proved  fatal  came  to  set  him  free.  He  met  great  pain  and 
death  with  the  same  firmness  that  he  exhibited  in  every  trial,  and  the  people  who 
despised  his  counsels,  with  universal  lamentation  followed  him  to  the  grave. 
Never  was  there  so  complete  a  triumph  of  truth  over  error  as  the  tribute  wrung 
from  a  whole  community  of  political  opponents  by  the  pure  virtue  of  a  single 
man. 

His  example  is  good  for  all  the  young,  for  it  shows  a  man  cited  as  a  model 
of  patriotism,  without  place  or  power,  by  the  force  of  character  alone,  acknow 
ledged  as  one  of  the  great  men  of  this  revolution.  Had  he  been  spared  to  us,  it 
is  believed  that  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  all  eyes  in  the  nation  would  have 
turned  to  him  to  adjust  the  differences  between  the  North  and  the  South. 


HCXN.   CHARLES  SUMNER 


OHAELES    SUMISTEE. 

J3UMNER  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  January  6th,  1811. 
His  grandfather,  Major  Job  Sumner,  was  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary 
army ;  and  his  father,  Charles  Pinckney  Sumner,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  an 
accomplished  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  held  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
the  responsible  position  of  sheriff  of  Suffolk  county,  which  comprises  the  city 
of  Boston. 

At  ten  years  of  age,  Charles  Sumner  was  placed  in  the  public  Latin  school 
of  Boston,  the  best  preparatory  institution  for  classical  training  in  New  England, 
and,  during  the  five  years  that  he  remained  there,  gave  abundant  evidences  of 
industry  and  ability.  Of  naturally  studious  habits,  he  devoted  much  of  his 
leisure  time  to  reading  history,  of  which  he  was  passionately  fond,  and  often 
arose  before  daylight  to  peruse  Hume,  Gibbon,  and  other  favorite  authors.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen,  he  entered  Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1830, 
holding  a  respectable  rank  in  his  class,  though  one  by  no  means  commensurate 
with  his  natural  abilities.  More  interested  in  the  general  improvement  of  his 
mind  than  in  the  acquisition  of  academical  honors,  he  deviated  from  the  pre 
scribed  curriculum  whenever  it  was  opposed  to  his  plans  or  tastes,  and  pursued 
an  independent  course  of  reading  in  classical  and  general  literature.  Having 
devoted  another  year  to  private  reading  in  his  favorite  studies,  he  entered  in 
1831  the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  where,  under  the  instruction  of  Professors 
Ashmun  and  Greenleaf,  and  Justice  Story,  he  acquired  a  profound  knowledge 
of  judicial  science.  Not  content  with  the  information  to  be  gained  from  the 
ordinary  text-books,  he  explored  the  curious  learning  of  the  old  year-books, 
made  himself  familiar  with  the  voluminous  reports  of  the  English  and  American 
courts,  and  neglected  no  opportunity  to  trace  the  principles  of  law  to  their  sources. 

While  still  a  student,  he  contributed  articles  to  the  American  Jurist,  a  law 
quarterly  published  in  Boston,  which  attracted  attention  by  'their  marked  ability 
and  learning.  Subsequently,  he  became  the  editor  of  this  periodical,  and  it  is  a 
fact  creditable  to  his  early  acquirements  that  several  of  his  contributions  have 
been  cited  as  authorities  by  Justice  Story.  With  each  of  the  distinguished 
jurists  above  mentioned  he  was  on  terms  of  cordial  intimacy;  and  Justice  Story, 
down  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1845,  was  his  warm  friend  and  admirer. 


272 


CHARLES     SUMNER. 


Leaving  the  Law  School  in  1834,  Mr.  Sumner  passed  a  few  months  in  the 
office  of  Benjamin  Band,  in  Boston,  with  a  view  of  learning  the  forms  of  prac 
tice  ;  and  in  the  same  year  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  at  "Worcester.  He  imme 
diately  commenced  practice  in  Boston,  where  his  reputation  for  learning  and 
forensic  ability  secured  him  a  warm  welcome  from  the  members  of  his  profession, 
and  offers  to  enter  lucrative  law  partnerships,  which  he  declined,  preferring  to 
make  no  engagements  which  should  interfere  with  a  long-cherished  plan  of 
making  a  European  tour.  In  addition  to  his  large  practice,  he  assumed  the 
duties  of  reporter  of  the  United  States  circuit  court,  in  which  capacity  he  pub 
lished  three  volumes  of  cases,  known  as  "Sumner's  Reports,"  and  comprising 
chiefly  the  decisions  of  Justice  Story ;  and  during  the  absence  of  the  latter  at 
"Washington,  he  filled  his  place  for  three  winters  at  the  Cambridge  Law  School, 
by  appointment  of  the  university  authorities — a  significant  proof  of  the  estima 
tion  in  which  his  abilities  were  held.  His  lectures  on  constitutional  law  and  the 
law  of  nations  were  prepared  with  much  labor,  and  greatly  enhanced  his  reputa 
tion.  Amid  these  absorbing  pursuits  he  found  time  to  edit  "Dunlap's  Treatise 
on  Admiralty  Practice,"  left  unfinished  by  the  author,  and  to  which  he  added  a 
copious  appendix,  containing  many  practical  forms  and  precedents  of  pleadings, 
since  adopted  in  our  admiralty  courts,  and  an  index,  the  whole  making  a  larger 
amount  of  matter  than  the  original  treatise. 

In  1837,  having  in  the  preceding  year  declined  flattering  offers  of  a  profes 
sorship  at  Cambridge,  Mr.  Sumner  turned  aside  from  the  temptations  and  emolu 
ments  of  professional  life,  to  make  his  contemplated  visit  to  Europe,  where  he 
remained  until  1840.  Carrying  to  foreign  lands  his  enthusiasm  for  his  profes 
sion,  he  made  a  special  study  in  Paris  of  the  celebrated  Code  Napoleon,  both  in 
its  essential  principles  and  forms  of  procedure,  with  which  his  previous  studies 
in  civil  law  had  made  him  tolerably  familiar.  In  England,  where  he  remained 
nearly  a  year,  his  opportunities  for  meeting  society  in  all  its  forms  were  such  as 
are  rarely  accorded  to  American  travellers.  Bench  and  bar  vied  with  each  other 
in  paying  attentions  to  him ;  and  in  private  circles,  as  well  as  in  "Westminster 
Hall — where,  on  more  than  one  occasion,  at  the  invitation  of  the  judges,  he  sat 
by  their  side  at  trials — his  reception  was  most  gratifying.  As  an  evidence  of 
the  impression  which  his  extensive  learning  and  accomplishments  produced  upon 
an  eminent  English  jurist,  it  is  related  that,  several  years  after  his  return  to 
America,  during  the  hearing  in  an  insurance  question  before  the  court  of  ex 
chequer,  one  of  the  counsel  having  cited  an  American  case,  Baron  Parke  (since 
created  Lord  Wensleydale,  the  ablest  perhaps  of  the  English  judges  of  the  time) 
asked  him  what  book  he  quoted.  He  replied,  "Sumner's  Reports."  Baron 
Rolfe  inquired,  "  Is  that  the  Mr.  Sumner  who  was  once  in  England  ?"  and,  upon 
receiving  a  reply  in  the  affirmative,  Baron  Parke  observed,  "  We  shall  not  con- 


CHARLES     SUMNER.  273 

sidcr  it  entitled  to  less  attention,  because  reported  by  a  gentleman  whom  we  all 
knew  and  respected.'' 

In  Germany,  Mr.  Sumner  made  the  acquaintance  of  Savigny,  Mittermaier, 
and  other  eminent  civilians,  and  of  such  distinguished  characters  as  Humboldt, 
Carl  Eitter  the  geographer,  and  Ranke  the  historian  of  popes ;  and  here,  as  else 
where  in  Europe,  he  was  frequently  consulted  by  writers  on  the  law  of  nations. 
At  the  request  of  Mr.  Cass,  then  minister  to  France,  he  prepared  a  defence  of  the 
American  claim  in  the  North-eastern  Boundary  controversy,  which  was  published 
in  Galignaui's  Paris  Messenger ;  and  he  also  conceived  the  idea  of  writing  a  "  His 
tory  of  the  Law  of  Nations/'  a  task  which  he  finally  relinquished  to  Mr.  Whea- 
ton,  whom  he  had  consulted  on  the  subject. 

After  a  brief  residence  in  Italy,  where  he  studied  art  and  general  literature, 
Mr.  Sumner  returned  in  1840  to  Boston,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profes 
sion,  though  to  a  more  moderate  extent  than  formerly,  his  attention  being  now 
much  occupied  with  subjects  connected  with  social  and  political  ethics,  and 
kindred  topics.  His  love  of  law  as  a  science,  however,  showed  no  diminution ; 
and  in  1844-'46,  he  produced  an  edition  of  "Vesey's  Reports,"  in  twenty  vol 
umes,  enriched  with  numerous  notes,  and  with  wThat  was  a  novelty  in  a  work  of 
the  kind,  biographical  illustrations  of  the  text. 

Though  previously  known  as  a  graceful  and  impressive  speaker,  it  was  not 
until  1845  that  the  full  effect  of  Mr.  Sumncr's  oratory  was  appreciated  by  a  pub 
lic  assembly ;  and  not  until  then,  it  may  be  added,  did  the  orator  exhibit  that 
lofty  moral  courage  which  he  has  since  illustrated  on  innumerable  occasions,  as 
the  advocate  of  principles  which  he  believes  to  be  right,  in  defiance  of  an  ad 
verse  public  opinion.  On  the  4th  of  July  of  that  year,  he  delivered  before  the 
municipal  authorities  of  Boston  an  oration  on  "  The  True  Grandeur  of  Nations,'1 
in  which  he  exhibited  the  war  system  as  the  old  ordeal  by  battle,  a  relic  of 
middle-age  barbarism  retained  by  international  law  as  the  arbiter  of  justice 
between  nations ;  and  portrayed,  in  contrast,  the  blessings  of  peace.  The  doc 
trine  was  not  then,  and  is  not  now,  popular;  and,  while  the  enunciation  of  it 
gained  him  warm  friends  and  admirers,  others  received  the  speaker's  sentiments 
with  distrust  or  open  ridicule.  None,  however,  could  deny  the  persuasive  charm 
of  his  elocution,  the  finish  and  elegance  of  the  diction,  and  the  finely-conceived 
classical  and  historical  illustrations  with  which  many  of  his  passages  were  en 
riched.  Justice  Story,  though  dissenting  from  some  of  his  views,  declared  that 
certain,  parts  of  his  discourse  were  "such  as  befit  an  exalted  mind  and  an  en 
larged  benevolence,"  and  resembled,  in  their  manly  moral  enthusiasm,  the  great 
efforts  of  Sir  James  Mackintosh.  From  Chancellor  Kent  and  other  distinguished 
men  he  received  equally  strong  tokens  of  approbation.  In  England,  the  oration 
was  republished  in  five  or  six  different  forms,  and  met  with  a  ready  sale.  Rich- 


274  CHARLES     SUMNER. 

ard  Cobden,  in  a  letter  to  the  author,  called  it  "  the  most  noble  contribution  of 
any  modern  "writer  to  the  cause  of  peace  ;"  and  the  venerable  poet  Rogers  wrote 
to  him,  "  Every  pu]se  of  my  heart  beats  in  accordance  with  yours  on  the  subject." 
His  oration  before  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society  of  Harvard  University,  in  Au 
gust,  1846,  entitled  "  The  Scholar,  the  Jurist,  the  Artist,  and  the  Philanthropist," 
excited  equal  admiration  ;  and  John  Quincy  Adams  offered  as  a  sentiment,  at  the 
annual  dinner  of  the  society,  "  The  memory  of  the  scholar,  the  jurist,  the  artist, 
and  the  philanthropist,  and — not  the  memory,  but  the  long  life  of  the  kindred 
spirit  who  has  this  day  embalmed  them  all."  Writing  to  the  orator  shortly  after 
ward,  on  the  success  of  his  performance,  he  observed,  in  allusion  to  the  approach 
ing  close  of  his  own  career :  "  I  see  you  have  a  mission  to  perform.  I  look  from 
Pisgah  to  the  promised  land — you  must  enter  upon  it."  How  fully  the  injunc 
tion  of  the  aged  statesman  has  been  obeyed,  Mr.  Sumner's  life  attests.  Thence 
forth  he  frequently  appeared  before  public  bodies  and  literary  associations  as  the 
earnest  and  eloquent  advocate  of  philanthropic  measures ;  and  the  two  volumes 
of  his  "  Orations  and  Speeches,"  published  in  1850,  contain  noble  specimens  of 
national  oratory. 

Previous  to  1845,  Mr.  Sumner  had  kept  aloof  from  politics,  his  tastes  being 
averse  to  the  rough  experiences  and  demoralizing  influences  to  which  the  pro 
fessed  politician  must  too  often  accustom  himself,  and  inclining  wholly  to  those 
studies  which  can  be  pursued  in  the  peaceful  walks  of  private  life.  "  The  strife 
of  parties,"  to  use  his  own  words,  "had  seemed  ignoble  to  him."  He  had  always, 
however,  borne  his  testimony  against  slavery ;  and  upon  the  agitation,  in  1846, 
of  the  question  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  which  involved  the  extension  of 
slave-territory  within  the  Union,  he  came  promptly  forward  as  an  opponent  of 
the  measure.  His  speech  on  this  subject,  before  a  popular  convention  held  in 
Faneuil  Hall,  in  ^Boston,  in  that  year,  is  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  pointed  he 
ever  delivered. 

In  the  autumn  of  1845,  the  Dane  professorship  of  law  in  the  Cambridge 
Law  School  became  vacant  by  the  death  of  Justice  Story ;  and  it  was  supposed, 
in  accordance  with  the  expressed  desire  of  the  late  incumbent,  that  Mr.  Sumner 
would  be  appointed  his  successor.  If  that  recommendation  were  not  sufficient, 
the  declaration  of  Chancellor  Kent  that  he  was  "  the  only  person  in  the  country 
competent  to  succeed  Story,"  might  have  been  entitled  to  some  weight  with  those 
having  the  appointment.  It  was,  however,  never  offered  to  him — a  proof  that 
the  estimation  in  which  he  had  been  held  a  few  years  previous  had  for  some 
reason  declined.  The  extreme  views  expressed  by  him  on  questions  of  public 
interest  which  had  then  begun  to  agitate  the  community,  probably  alarmed  the 
conservatism  of  many  who  had  been  his  admirers,  and  weighed  against  him.  It 
is  certain,  however,  that  his  social  status  with  a  portion  of  the  community  thence- 


CHARLES     SUMNER. 


275 


forth  became  impaired ;  though  it  may  be  doubted  whether,  in  the  generous  sup 
port  which  the  expression  of  his  sentiments  brought  him  from  many  to  whom  he 
had  been  previously  unknown,  he  suffered  any  material  loss  of  position. 

Having  once  embarked  in  the  crusade  against  the  extension  of  the  slave- 
power,  Mr.  Sumner  delivered  in  September,  1846,  an  address  before  the  Whig 
state  convention  of  Massachusetts,  "On  the  Anti-Slavery  Duties  of  the  Whig 
Party;"  and  in  the  succeeding  month  he  published  a  letter  of  rebuke  to  the 
Honorable  Eobert  C.  Winthrop,  then  a  representative  in  Congress  from  Massa 
chusetts,  for  his  vote  in  favor  of  the  war  with  Mexico.  He  refused  to  allow 
himself  to  be  put  forward  as  a  rival  candidate  to  that  gentleman  in  the  impend 
ing  election,  but  supported  Mr.  Samuel  Or.  Howe,  who  was  nominated  in  that 
capacity,  and  in  a  speech,  delivered  during  the  canvass,  opposed  the  Mexican 
war  and  all  supplies  for  its  prosecution.  These  acts,  instigated  by  a  clear  con 
viction  of  the  demands  which  duty  imposed,  alienated  him  from  many  old  friends, 
and  made  his  position  an  isolated  and  in  many  respects  an  unpleasant  one.  He 
still  adhered,  however,  to  the  Whig  party,  with  which  he  had  always  acted,  and 
as  late  as  September,  1847,  was  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention ;  but  after  the 
schism  in  the  Whig  ranks,  in  1848,  which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Free- 
Soil  party,  he  attached  himself  to  the  latter  organization,  and  during  the  presi 
dential  canvass  of  1848  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  election  of  Van  Buren 
and  Adams. 

In  1850,  the  Whig  party  lost  its  ascendency  in  Massachusetts ;  and  upon  the 
legislature  elected  in  that  year,  and  which  contained  an  opposition  majority  com 
posed  of  Democratic  and  Free-Soil  members,  devolved  the  choice  of  a  Senator 
in  Congress  to  succeed  Mr.  Webster.  Mr.  Sumner,  in  opposition  to  his  often- 
expressed  wishes  to  avoid  official  life,  was  nominated  for  the  office  by  the  mem 
bers  of  his  party,  Mr.  Winthrop  being  the  candidate  of  the  Whigs ;  and  after  an 
exciting  contest,  prolonged  by  his  refusal  to  give  any  pledge  as  to  his  future 
course,  beyond  what  was  implied  in  his  past  acts,  he  was,  on  April  24th,  1851, 
elected  by  a  coalition  between  the  Free-Soilers  and  Democrats.  This  result,  the 
first  substantial  triumph  of  the  Anti-Slavery  party  in  Massachusetts,  was  appro 
priately  celebrated  in  many  places. 

Mr.  Sumner's  first  important  speech  in  Congress  was  directed  against  the 
fugitive-slave  law  of  1850,  which  he  denounced  as  unconstitutional,  tyrannical, 
and  cruel.  On  this  occasion  he  laid  down  the  well-known  formula  that  "  free 
dom  is  national,  and  slavery  sectional,"  which  has  since  been  adopted  by  his 
party  as  their  rule  of  political  action.  He  participated  with  earnestness  in  the 
debates  on  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  on  the  Kansas  troubles  ; 
and,  upon  the  formation  of  the  Eepublican  party,  in  1855-'56,  he  became,  with 
the  great  body  of  the  Free-Soilers,  identified  with  it. 


276 


CHARLES     SUMNER. 


On  May  19tli  and  20th,  Mr.  Sumner  delivered  in  the  Senate  the  celebrated 
speech,  subsequently  published  under  the  title  of  "  The  Crime  against  Kansas,'' 
the  most  elaborate  and  masterly  of  any  of  his  political  efforts  up  to  that  time,  but 
which  greatly  incensed  certain  of  the  Southern  members.  It  was  determined 
that  the  man  who  had  so  fearlessly  and  eloquently  attacked  the  institutions  of 
the  South  should  be  silenced  by  force,  if  arguments  were  unavailing ;  and  on 
May  22d,  shortly  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Senate,  while  Mr.  Sumner  was 
sitting  at  his  desk,  absorbed  in  writing,  Preston  S.  Brooks,  one  of  the  representa 
tives  from  South  Carolina,  entered  the  Senate-chamber,  attended  by  Mr.  Keitt, 
also  of  South  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Edmundson,  of  Virginia,  and  with  a  heavy 
gutta-percha  cane  struck  the  offending  Senator  repeated  blows  over  the  head, 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  almost  immediately  fell  to  the  floor  insensible.  The 
excitement  throughout  the  country,  in  consequence  of  this  outrage,  is  too  fresh 
in  the  public  mind  to  need  more  than  a  passing  allusion.  It  became  a  powerful 
element  in  the  succeeding  presidential  canvass,  and  perceptibly  widened  the 
breach  between  the  North  and  the  South.  A  resolution  for  the  expulsion  of 
Brooks  was  almost  immediately  introduced  into  the  House  of  Representatives, 
but  failed  of  receiving  the  requisite  two-thirds  vote.  The  severe  illness  which 
followed  the  assault  prevented  Mr.  Sumner  from  taking  any  part  in  the  public 
affairs  during  the  succeeding  summer  and  winter ;  and  in  March,  1857,  his  health 
was  so  seriously  impaired,  that  he  was  induced,  by  the  advice  of  his  physicians, 
to  make  a  visit  to  Europe.  Previous  to  his  departure,  the  legislature  of  Massa 
chusetts  afforded  him  a  gratifying  proof  of  their  esteem  and  confidence  by  re- 
electing  him  a  United  States  Senator  for  another  full  term — the  vote  being 
unanimous  in  the  senate,  and  almost  so  in  the  house  of  representatives,  contain 
ing  several  hundred  members.  In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  he  returned  to 
the  United  States ;  but  his  health  being  still  too  much  impaired  to  admit  of  the 
resumption  of  his  legislative  duties,  he  went  abroad  again  in  May,  1858,  and  for 
more 'than  a  year  was  subjected  to  a  course  of  medical  treatment,  which  caused 
the  most  acute  suffering,  but  which  restored  him  to  his  legislative  duties  in '  the 
winter  of  1859-'60,  in  comparative  vigor. 

As  if  to  show  that  the  attempt  to  crush  the  utterance  of  his  opinions  had 
inspired  him  to  renewed  efforts  in  the  anti-slavery  cause,  his  first  speech  after  his 
recovery  was  an  eloquent  exposition  of  the  demoralizing  influences  of  slavery, 
subsequently  widely  distributed  in  pamphlet  form,  under  the  title  of  "The  Bar 
barism  of  Slavery."  He  spoke  frequently  in  favor  of  the  Eepublican  candidates 
during  the  presidential  canvass  of  1860 ;  and,  in  the  memorable  session  of 
1860-'61,. maintained  a  stern  opposition  to  all  compromises  with  or  concessions 
to  the  seceding  states  as  a  means  of  restoring  them  to  the  Union.  With  all 
patriotic  statesmen,  he  has  urged  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  against 


CHARLES     SUM  NEB. 


277 


the  rebellious  states,  and,  as  might  be  supposed  from  his  previous  course,  is  in 
favor  of  making  emancipation  an  element  in  the  contest.  Emancipation  he  has 
repeatedly  declared  to  be  the  speediest,  if  not  the  only  mode,  of  bringing  the 
war  to  a  close;  and  he  justifies  that  measure  on  moral,  historical,  and  particu 
larly  on  constitutional  grounds.  One  of  Mr.  Sumner's  last  great  efforts  was  a 
speech  delivered  in  the  Senate,  on  January  9th,  1862,  on  the  question  of  the 
rendition  of  Mason  and  Slidell,  which  he  advocated  on  principles  of  international 
law  always  previously  insisted  upon  by  the  United  States  government. 

In  addition  to  the  publications  already  mentioned,  Mr.  Sumner  has  a  work 
on  "White  Slavery  in  the  Barbary  States"  (Boston,  1853),  expanded  from  a  lec 
ture  ;  and  an  additional  volume  of  speeches,  entitled  "  Eecent  Speeches  and 
Addresses"  (1856). 

Though  past  fifty,  Mr.  Sumner  gives  little  evidence  of  the  approach  of  old 
age.  His  tall  and  well-knit  figure  has  lost  none  of  its  erectness ;  and  his  features, 
when  lighted  up  by  enthusiasm,  or  during  the  relaxations  of  social  intercourse, 
have  a  youthfulness  of  appearance  which  seems  hardly  in  keeping  with  the 
gravity  supposed  to  pertain  to  the  senatorial  office.  In  personal  appearance,  as 
well  as  in  the  luxuriance  and  elaborate  finish  of  his  style,  he  has  been  compared 
to  Edmund  Burke.  "For  depth  and  accuracy  of  thought,"  says  an  eminent 
British  critic,  "  for  fulness  of  historical  information,  and  for  a  species  of  gigantic 
morality,  which  treads  all  sophistry  under  foot,  and  rushes  at  once  to  the  right 
conclusion,  we  know  not  a  single  orator  speaking  the  English  tongue  who  ranks 
as  his  superior.  He  combines  to  a  remarkable  extent  the  peculiar  features  of 
our  British  emancipationists,  the  perseverance  of  Granville  Sharp,  the  knowledge 
of  Brougham,  the  enthusiasm  of  Wilberforce,  and  a  courage  which,  as  he  is  still  a 
young  man,  may  be  expected  to  tell  powerfully  on  the  destinies  of  the  republic." 

33 


WILLIAM    FAEEAN     SMITH. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  (familiarly  called  "  Baldy  "  Smith)  was  born  in 
Vermont,  on  the  twenty-seventh  February,  182-i.  In  1841,  he  entered 
West-Point  Academy,  and  remained  there  four  years,  graduating  with  distin 
guished  honors.  Amongst  his  classmates  were  Fitz-John  Porter,  Charles  Stone, 
and  John  W.  Davidson. 

On  leaving  West-Point  he  was  brevetted  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  Topo 
graphical  Engineers,  and  for  nearly  two  years  acted  as  Assistant  Professor  of 
Mathematics  at  the  Military  Academy.  In  1853,  he  was  made  First  Lieutenant, 
and  on  July  1,  1859,  received  his  commission  as  Captain. 

During  this  period  he  was  employed  in  various  surveys  of  the  Lake  Superior 
region,  of  the  Rio  Grande,  Texas,  the  military  road  to  California,  and  in  the  Mexi 
can  boundary  question. 

In  1861,  he  had  the  appointment  of  Secretary  to  the  Light-House  Board  at 
Washington,  but  immediately  offered  his  services  in  the  battle-field  when  the  war 
broke  out.  He  took  command  of  the  Third  Vermont  volunteers,  and  on  the  thir 
teenth  of  August,  1861,  was  made  a  Brigadier-General.  On  the  twenty-sixth  Sep 
tember,  he  was  in  camp,  commanding  the  advance  brigade  of  the  Union  army, 
near  the  chain-bridge  on  the  Potomac,  when  he  ordered  a  reconnoissance  to  be 
made  at  Lewinsville,  where  his  men  were  attacked  by  the  rebel  Stuart  and  obliged 
to  retreat.  Four  weeks  later,  in  company  with  McClellan  and  other  officers,  he 
proceeded  with  a  reconnoitring  party  to  Flint  Hill,  about  two  miles  from  Fairfax 
Court-House,  and  was  otherwise  engaged  on  similar  service  until  the  famous  bat 
tles  of  the  Peninsula  in  1862,  where  we  find  him  commanding  a  corps  under  Gen 
eral  Franklin.  Here  he  distinguished  himself  for  great  skill  and  bravery,  and,  in 
July,  was  promoted  to  Major-General  of  volunteers  for  his  services  at  that  time. 
This,  however,  was  not  then  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  and  we  find  him  still  under 
Franklin  with  the  army  on  its  retreat  from  Harrison's  Landing. 

In  September,  General  Smith  participated  in  the  battle  of  Antietam,  lead 
ing  Franklin's  advance,  and  by  his  skilful  arrangements  doing  effective  service. 
In  reference  to  it,  the  official  report  of  General  McClellan  says  :  "  The  advance 
was  opportune.  The  attack  of  the  enemy  on  this  position,  but  for  the  timely 
arrival  of  his  corps,  must  have  been  disastrous." 


MAJ.GEN  \v  I-'.  SMITH. 


WILLIAM      FARRAN      SMITH.  ,  279 

It  appears  that,  on  nearing  the  field  of  battle  and  hearing  that  one  of  our  bat 
teries  was  hotly  engaged  without  supports,  General  Smith  sent  two  regiments  to 
its  relief  from  General  Hancock's  brigade.  Afterward,  on  inspecting  the  ground, 
General  Smith  ordered  the  other  regiments  of  Hancock's  brigade,  with  two  bat 
teries,  to  the  threatened  position,  and  thus  saved  it. 

After  the  battle  of  Antietam,  General  Smith  had  command  of  the  Sixth  corps, 
under  Burnside,  and  shared  in  the  disastrous  assault  of  Fredericksburgh  on  De 
cember  thirteenth.  Soon  after  this,  January  twenty-third,  1863,  he  was  relieved 
from  his  command  by  Burnside,  in  an  order  to  that  effect,  which  also  included 
General  Franklin  and  some  others  of  equal  note.  The  cause  of  this  is  not  well 
made  known,  but  enough  has  been  seen  to  show  that  it  was  from  no  military  in 
capacity  or  want  of  attention  to  duty. 

General  Smith  was  ordered  to  report  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  United 
States  army ;  and,  when  the  rebels  invaded  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  in  July, 
he  was  placed  by  General  Couch  in  charge  of  the  raw  troops  that  had  lately  come 
from  New- York.  His  post  was  opposite  Harrisburgh,  there  to  resist  any  attack 
made  upon  that  place.  When  Lee  retreated,  Smith  followed  close  upon  him  with 
about  six  thousand  men,  a  small  number  of  cavalry,  and  two  batteries  of  artillery. 
At  Carlisle  he  encountered  and  drove  back  a  body  of  the  rebels,  following  them 
some  distance.  He  then,  with  his  troops  shoeless  and  living  on  the  country  a* 
best  they  could,  joined  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 

On  September  twenty -third,  when  Hooker  was  sent  to  reenforce*  Rosecrans, 
General  Smith  was  appointed  to  accompany  him,  arriving  at  Bridgeport  in  the 
early  part  of  October. 

During  the  operations  connected  with  the  battles  at  Chattanooga  he  greatly 
distinguished  himself,  as  the  following  extracts  from  the  reports  of  Generals 
Thomas,  Sherman,  and  Grant  will  show : 

"November  7,  18G3. 

"  The  recent  movements,  resulting  in  the  establishment  of  a  new  and  short 
line  of  communication  with  Bridgeport  and  the  possession  of  the  Tennessee  River, 
were  of  so  brilliant  a  character  as  to  deserve  special  notice.  The  skill  and  cool 
gallantry  of  the  officers  and  men  composing  the  expedition  under  Brigadier-Gene 
ral  William  F.  Smith,  Chief  Engineer,  (and  others  mentioned,)  in  effecting  a  per 
manent  lodgment  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  at  Brown's  Ferry,  deserve  the 
highest  praise." 

Indeed,  the  various  reports  forwarded  from  the  battle-fields  clearly  show  that 
these  successful  operations  "brought  great  relief  to  the  army,  and  saved  the  coun 
try  the  humiliation  of  seeing  the  important  position  of  Chattanooga  evacuated  by 
our  forces."  In  General  Sherman's  official  report  he  speaks  in  the  highest  terms 
of  the  work  pknned  and  done  under  the  personal  supervision  of  General  W.  F. 


280  WILLIAM      FAR RAN      SMITE. 

Smith.  "I  cannot,"  says  he,  "praise  it  too  highly.  I  have  never  beheld  any 
work  done  so  quietly,  so  well ;  and  I  doubt  if  the  history  of  war  can  show  a  bridge 
of  that  extent  (namely,  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet)  laid  down  so 
noiselessly  and  well  in  so  short  a  time.  I  attribute  it  to  the  genius  and  intelli 
gence  of  General  W.  F.  Smith."  * 

In  February,  1864,  we  find  General  Smith  on  the  personal  staff  of  General 
Grant,  as  Chief  Engineer.  In  March  he  visited  Washington,  and,  on  the  twenty- 
third,  was  confirmed  in  the  rank  of  Major-General  of  volunteers.  On  the  thirty- 
first  of  March  he  was  assigned  to  duty  with  General  Butler,  and  arrived  at  Fort 
ress  Monroe  two  days  later.  Shortly  afterward  he  was  directed  to  organize  the 
troops  in  that  department  for  new  and  special  service.  He  made  Yorktown  his 
headquarters,  having  the  Eighteenth  army  corps  as  his  immediate  command. 

On  the  fourth  of  May  active  operations  commenced,  and  at  dusk  of  that  day 
the  first  boat  conveying  the  troops  from  Yorktown  to  Fortress  Monroe  left  with 
General  Smith  on  board.  On  arrival  at  General  Butler's  headquarters,  a  consulta 
tion  took  place,  and  General  Smith  then  left  for  Newport  News,  the  various  trans 
ports  with  the  army  on  board  following  him. 

To  this  moment  the  destination  of  the  troops  was  a  secret,  except  to  the 
chiefs  of  the  expedition,  but  now  it  was  evident  that  up  the  James  River  to  Rich 
mond  was  intended.  General  Smith,  with  his  accustomed  activity,  was  in  ad 
vance,  and  with  General  Gillmore,  who  had  joined  the  troops,  in  command  of  the 
Tenth  corps,  skilfully  superintended  the  landing  of  the  men  at  Bermuda  Hun 
dred,  about  a  mile  above  City  Point.  This  movement  of  our  army  either  took  the 
enemy  by  surprise,  or  they  chose  to  remain  quiescent  at  the  time,  for  no  attempt 
at  molestation  occurred.  On  the  ninth  of  May  a  movement  of  the  army  was  made 
toward  Petersburgh,  General  Smith  commanding  the  right  and  Gillmore  the  left 
in  advance.  On  the  eleventh,  with  a  large  force,  he  moved  up  the  Richmond 
turnpike,  encountering  the  enemy  a  little  above  the  Bottom  Church,  and  after 
two  successive  engagements  during  the  day,  drove  them  back  full  two  miles.  He, 
himself,  was  constantly  in  the  advance,  and  numerous  stories  are  told  of  the  hair 
breadth  escapes  he  had.  That  night  his  troops  held  a  position  at  Proctor's  Creek, 
twelve  miles  from  Richmond,  and  on  the  three  following  days  nothing  but  skir 
mishing  took  place.  But  on  Monday,  May  sixteenth,  the  enemy,  having  been  re- 
enforced  on  the  previous  evening,  and  commanded  by  Beauregard  in  person,  took 
advantage  of  a  thick  fog,  and  suddenly  came  upon  our  advance  under  Heckman 
with  his  brigade.  So  great  was  the  impetuosity  of  the  rebels,  and  so  unexpected 
their  approach,  that  our  troops  \vere  driven  back  for  a  time,  but  ultimately  suc 
ceeded  in  regaining  their  old  position.  The  fight  was  very  severe,  but  both  Gen 
eral  Smith  and  General  Gillmore  were  conspicuously  seen  everywhere  amidst  it. 

As  the  principal  object  of  our  movements  in  this  direction  was  other  than 


WILLIAM      FARRAN      SMITH.  281 

ostensibly  represented,  General  Smith  fell  back  again  to  the  intrenchments  at 
Bermuda  Hundred,  and  with  various  encounters  with  the  enemy  remained  there 
until  the  twenty-ninth  of  May.  At  that  time  it  was  known  Grant  had  come  south 
as  far  as  Hanover  Town,  on  the  Pamunkey,  and  information  having  reached  But 
ler  that  Beauregard  had  detached  a  portion  of  his  troops  to  join  Lee,  General 
Smith  with  General  Brooks  and  their  commands  was  despatched  in  transports  to 
the  White  House  via  Fortress  Monroe.  On  the  thirty-first  May,  Smith  arrived  at 
the  White  House,  and  the  following  morning  received  orders  from  General  Grant  to 
join  him  immediately  at  Coal  Harbor,  and  take  a  position  on  the  right  of  the  Sixth 
corps.  This  was  done  at  three  o'clock  the  same  afternoon,  and  though  his  men 
had  had  a  severe  march,  besides  great  labor  during  the  two  previous  days,  he  gal 
lantly  took  them  into  action  immediately  on  arrival. 

One  incident  here  deserves  to  be  mentioned  as  evincing  the  popularity  of 
General  Smith  amongst  the  soldiers.  It  has  already  been  stated  that  he  had  for 
merly  commanded  the  Sixth  corps  at  Fredericksburgh,  and  now  when  the  men  of 
that  corps  again  beheld  him  come  to  their  support,  great  satisfaction  was  mani 
fested,  and  the  familiar  term  by  which*  he  was  known,  "  Baldy,"  was  uttered  by 
many  in  a  kindly  way. 

The  battle  of  Coal  Harbor  resulted  in  the  enemy  being  everywhere  repulsed. 
At  the  first  onset  some  of  Smith's  men  got  into  confusion,  broke,  and  fell  back  ; 
but,  with  characteristic  promptitude,  he  personally  arrested  their  retreat,  and 
drove  them  to  the  front,  where  himself  kept  continually  under  fire.  It  was  thus 
that  by  his  presence,  confidence  and  courage  were  restored  among  any  of  the  regi 
ments  that  faltered.  In  the  commencement  of  the  action  his  horse  was  shot  under 
him,  and  one  of  his  orderlies  wounded  in  the  leg.  After  the  battle  his  headquar 
ters  were  established  within  so  short  a  distance  of  the  skirmishing  line  that  it  was 
any  thing  but  very  agreeable  to  his  staff. 

In  this  position  General  Smith  remained  until  Sunday,  the  twelfth  of  June, 
when,  it  being  determined  by  Grant  to  cross  the  James  Eiver  and  join  Butler, 
he  was  sent  back  with  his  corps  to  White  House,  and  there  embarked  once  again 
for  Bermuda  Hundred,  where  he  arrived  on  the  fourteenth.  Immediately  after 
ward  he  was  directed  to  proceed  against  Petersburg!!,  which  place  he,  in  company 
with  Hancock  and  Kautz,  assaulted  on  the  fifteenth. 

General  Grant  had  arrived  at  Butler's  and  assumed  entire  command  of  the 
forces.  In  his  despatch  to  the  War  Office  he  says  :  "  The  Eighteenth  corps 
(Smith's)  were  transferred  from  the  White  House  to  Bermuda  Hundred  by  water, 
and  moved  out  near  to  Petersburg!!.  The  night  of  their  arrival  they  surprised,  or 
rather  captured,  the  very  strong  works  north-east  of  Petersburgh,  before  a  suffi 
cient  force  could  be  got  in  them  by  the  enemy.  .  .  .  Too  much  praise  cannot 
be  given  the  troops  and  their  commanders  for  the  energy  and  fortitude  displayed 
the  last  five  days.  Day  and  night  have  been  all  the  same." 


282  WILLIAM      F  A  R  R  A  N      SMITH. 

It  appears,  by  accounts  from  the  battle-field,  that  General  Smith  and  his  gal 
lant  corps  arrived  at  Bermuda  Hundred  on  the  evening  of  the  fourteenth,  and 
at  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  fifteenth  set  out  for  Petersburgh.  Under  his 
command  was  Hinks's  division  of  negroes,  and  they  are  spoken  of  as  having  be 
haved  very  gallantly  in  the  fight. 

The  works  taken  were  of  great  strength  and  importance,  and  General  Grant 
afterward,  on  riding  along  the  front,  expressed  himself  greatly  astonished.  Smith 
evidently  was  a  fighting  General,  yet,  withal,  so  regardful  of  his  men  that  he  never 
risked  their  lives  more  than  he  did  his  own  ;  and  thus  "Baldy  "  Smith  was  not 
only  much  loved,  but  readily  followed. 

On  the  twenty-first,  President  Lincoln  arrived  on  a  visit  to  the  camp  and  to 
General  Grant.  General  Smith  was  then  at  Wright's  headquarters,  and  was  pre 
sented  to  the  President  afterward,  in  company  with  Grant  and  other  Generals, 
having  a  private  consultation  with  him. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  June,  General  Smith  made  a  demonstration  against  the 
position  occupied  by  what  is  called  the  "  White  House,"  but  was  unable  to  effect 
the  object  he  had  in  view,  owing  to  want  of  sufficient  cooperation.  A  few  days 
afterward  he  was  visited  by  several  distinguished  Senators  from  Washington,  and 
he  also  hospitably  entertained  two  French  officers  who  had  been  sent  by  Napoleon 
to  observe  our  artillery  practice,  etc. 

Active  operations  having  now  for  a  time  comparatively  ceased  in  front  of 
Petersburgh,  and  General  Smith's  health  requiring  some  relief  from  the  incessant 
labors  he  had  been  engag'ed  in  for  the  past  two  months,  leave  of  absence  was 
granted  him,  and,  leaving  General  Martindale  in  command  of  his  corps,  he  depart 
ed  for  the  North  via  Fortress  Monroe.  On  the  thirteenth  of  July  he  arrived  at 
New- York,  en  route  for  his  residence  in  Orange  County. 

General  "  Baldy  "  Smith  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  skilful 
engineers  in  the  army,  and  his  coolness  and  bravery  on  the  battle-field  have  been 
frequently  commended.  His  movements  are  rapid,  prompt,  and  to  the  purpose ; 
his  judgment  sound,  and  his  personal  courage  of  the  highest  order,  while  his  care 
ful  forethought  and  consideration  for  the  troops  under  his  command  have  greatly 
endeared  him  to  his  men. 


GEORGE  BRUSTTOlSr  McCLELLAST. 

GEORGE  BRINTON  McCLELLAN"  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
December  3d,  1826.  He  was  the  son  of  a  physician,  and  was  descended 
from  Colonel  McClellan  of  the  Revolutionary  army.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
entered  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  "West  Point.  In  all  the  studies 
he  maintained  the  second  rank  from  the  outset,  and  was  graduated  with  the 
second  rank  in  general  merit  in  1846.  He  Avas  commissioned  a  second-lieutenant 
of  engineers,  July  1st,  1846.  Congress,  in  the  previous  May,  had  authorized  the 
organization  of  a  company  of  sappers,  miners,  and  pontoniers,  and  the  recruits 
for  this  company  were  assembled  at  West  Point.  Lieutenant  McClellan  was 
attached  to  it,  and  assisted  very  actively  in  its  drill  and  practical  instruction  for 
duty.  Captain  Swift  and  Lieutenant  Gustavus  W.  Smith  were  his  superior  offi 
cers  in  the  company,  which  sailed  from  West  Point,  September  24th.  Ordered 
at  first  to  report  to  General  Taylor,  the  company  went  to  Camargo,  but  was 
thence  ordered  to  countermarch  to  Matamoras,  and  move  with  the  column  of 
General  Patterson.  Captain  Swift  was  left  in  the  hospital  at  Matamoras,  and  the 
only  commissioned  officers  in  the  company  were  Lieutenants  Smith  and  McClel 
lan  ;  and  great  praise  was  bestowed  upon  them  by  the  engineer  officer  for  the 
amount  and  excellence  of  their  work  done  in  this  part  of  the  Mexican  war. 

From  Tampico  the  sappers  and  miners  went  to  Vera  Cruz,  where,  until  the 
surrender  of  the  castle,  Lieutenant  McClellan  was  engaged  in  the  most  severe 
duties,  in  opening  paths  and  roads  to  facilitate  the  investment,  in  covering  recon- 
noissances,  and  in  the  unceasing  toil  and  hardship  of  the  trenches ;  and  his  work 
was  always  done  "with  unsurpassed  intelligence  and  zeal."  Tribute  is  rendered 
in  all  the  official  reports  to  the  services  of  this  company  and  the  efficiency  of  its 
two  lieutenants  on  the  march  to  Cerro  Gordo,  at  Jalapa,  and  San  Antonio.  Be 
fore  the  battle  of  Contreras,  Lieutenant  McClellan  had  a  horse  shot  under  him 
by  the  Mexican  pickets,  and  in  that  battle  he  served  with  Magrucler's  battery. 
General  Twiggs,  in  his  official  report,  says :  "  Lieutenant  George  B.  McClellan, 
after  Lieutenant  Calendar  was  wounded,  took  charge  of  and  managed  the  howit 
zer  battery,  with  judgment  and  success,  until  it  became  so  disabled  as  to  require 
shelter.  For  Lieutenant  McClellan's  efficiency  and  gallantry  in  this  affair,  I  pre 
sent  his  name  for  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  general-in-chief."  General 


284  GEORGE    BRINTON   McCLELLAX. 

Persifer  F.  Smith,  in  liis  report  of  all  the  actions  at  Churubusco  and  Contreras, 
says:  "Lieutenant  G.  "W.  Smith,  in  command  of  the  engineer  company,  and  Lieu 
tenant  McClellan,  his  subaltern,  distinguished  themselves  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  three  actions.  Nothing  seemed  to  them  too  bold  to  be  undertaken,  or  too 
difficult  to  be  executed,  and  their  services  as  engineers  were  as  valuable  as  those 
they  rendered  in  battle  at  the  head  of  their  gallant  men."  For  "gallant  and 
meritorious  conduct  in  the  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,"  McClellan  was 
breveted  first-lieutenant ;  and  for  "  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  in  the  battle 
of  Molino  del  Rey,"  captain ;  but  the  latter  brevet,  through  some  delicacy  toward- 
others,  lie  declined  to  accept.  In  the  battle  of  Chepultepec  he  was  one  of  "five 
lieutenants  of  engineers"  who,  in  the  words  of  Lieutenant-General  Scott,  "  won 
the  admiration  of  all  about  them ;"  and  for  his  services  on  that  day  he  was  bre 
veted  captain.  He  was  thus  "on  duty  with  the  engineer  company  from  its 
organization  at  West  Point,  in  the  siege  of  Yera  Cruz,  and  in  all  the  battles  of 
General  Scott's  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico." 

Captain  McClellan  returned  with  his  company,  which,  reached  West  Point  in 
June,  1847.  In  the  next  year  he  became  its  commander,  and  remained  writh  it 
until  1851.  During  this  time  he  translated  from  the  French  the  manual  of  bayo 
net  exercise,  which  has  since  become  the  text- book  of  the  service.  He  superin 
tended  the  construction  of  Fort  Delaware  in  the  fall  of  1851,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1852  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  expedition  that  explored  Red  River,  and 
also  served  as  an  engineer  upon  some  explorations  in  Texas. 

Secretary  of  War  Jefferson  Davis,  in  1853,  committed  to  Captain  McClellan 
an  important  and  difficult  survey  of  the  Cascade  range  of  mountains  on  the  Pa 
cific,  with  a  view  to  the  construction  of  the  Pacific  railroad.  In  his  report  the 
secretary  says :  "  The  examination  of  the  approaches  and  passes,  made  by  Cap 
tain  McClellan  of  the  corps  of  engineers,  presents  a  reconnoissance  of  great  value, 
and,  though  performed  under  adverse  circumstances,  exhibits  all  the  information 
necessary  to  determine  the  practicability  of  this  portion  of  the  route,  and  reflects 
the  highest  credit  on  the  capacity  and  resource  of  that  officer."  Besides  the 
reports  descriptive  of  the  region  surveyed,  Captain  McClellan  also  furnished  a 
valuable  collection  of  "Memoranda  on  Railways,"  the  result  of  examinations 
made  into  the  working  of  various  railroads,  to  assist  in  determining  the  practica 
bility  of  roads  over  the  various  routes. 

In  1855,  McClellan  received  a  captaincy  in  the  first  United  States  cavalry, 
and  in  the  same  year  was  chosen  as  one  of  three  officers  to  be  sent  on  a  military 
commission  to  Europe.  He  sailed,  in  company  with  Majors  Delafield  and  Mor- 
decai,  in  April,  1855,  and  proceeded  to  the  Crimea  and  to  northern  Russia,  to 
observe  the  war  then  in  progress  between  Russia,  England,  and  France ;  and  sub 
sequently  visited  every  military  establishment  of  interest  on  the  continent  and  in 


GEORGE     B  R  I  X  T  0  \      M  c  C  L  E  L  L  A  N .  285 

England.  After  an  absence  of  two  years,  the  commission  returned,  and  the  re 
sults  of  Captain  McClellan's  observations  were  embodied  in  a  report  to  the  secre 
tary  of  war,  published  in  1857,  "  On  the  Organization  of  European  Armies,  and 
the  Operations  of  the  War" — a  work  which  established  the  reputation  of  the 
young  officer  as  a  scientific  soldier. 

Upon  receiving  the  offer  of  an  important  civil  employment,  that  of  vice- 
president  and  director  of  the  Illinois  Central  Eailroad,  Captain  McClellan  resigned 
his  position  in  the  army,  January  16th,  1857.  His  position  on  the  Illinois  Cen 
tral  Railroad  he  held  for  three  years,  when  he  was  offered  and  accepted  the 
presidency  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad.  This  position  he  held  when 
the  war  broke  out. 

When  the  state  of  Ohio  began  to  marshal  its  forces  in  response  to  the  Presi 
dent's  call,  McClellan  was  immediately  chosen  as  the  citizen  of  that  state  most 
fit  to  organize  the  volunteer  regiments  into  an  army.  That  patriotic  state  has 
therefore  the  honor  of  having  brought  to  the  front  the  man  of  the  time ;  though 
Pennsylvania,  through  her  governor,  had  also  called  upon  the  young  captain, 
but  vainly,  to  head  her  stout  thousands  as  they  were  mustered  for  the  war. 
Ohio's  volunteers,  thanks  to  the  efficiency  of  the  man  chosen  to  lead  them,  be 
came  at  pnce  an  army,  and  were  ready  to  win  battles,  while  those  of  some  not 
less  patriotic  states  were  still  raw  recruits.  On  the  14th  of  May,  General  McClel 
lan  was  appointed  by  the  President  a  major-general  in  the  United  States  army, 
and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  then  newly  created  department  of  the  Ohio, 
formed  of  the  states  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  with  his  head-quarters  at  Cin 
cinnati.  Here  he  was  still  busy  in  the  organization  and  equipment  of  the  forces 
mustered  in  the  various  parts  of  his  district,  when  the  rebel  forces  from  Eastern 
Virginia  began  offensive  movements  against-  the  Western  Virginians,  who  were 
faithful  to  the  Union.  Confederate  troops  occupied  Philippi  and  Grafton,  and 
began  to  burn  bridges ;  and  on  May  25th,  General  McClellan  ordered  an  advance 
against  them  of  the  first  Virginia  regiment,  stationed  at  Wheeling,  and  of  the 
fourteenth  and  sixteenth  Ohio  regiments,  which  crossed  the  Ohio  respectively  at 
Marietta  and  Bellairc.  On  the  26th,  at  night,  the  rebels  fled  precipitately  from 
Grafton,  and  it  was  occupied  by  Colonel  Kelly  of  the  first  Virginia,  with  his  own 
regiment  and  the  sixteenth  Ohio,  May  30th.  Colonel  Steedman,  of  the  four 
teenth  Ohio,  occupied  Parkersburgh. 

Simultaneously  with  his  entrance  into  Virginia,  General  McClellan,  in  a 
proclamation  to  the  people  of  Western  Virginia,  said :  "The  general  government 
has  long  endured  the  machinations  of  a  few  factious  rebels  in  your  midst.  Armed 
traitors  have  in  vain  endeavored  to  deter  you  from  expressing  your  loyalty  at  the 
polls ;  having  failed  in  this  infamous  attempt  to  deprive  you  of  the  exercise  of 
your  dearest  rights,  they  now  seek  to  inaugurate  a  reign  of  terror,  and  thus  force 


286  GEORGE     ERIN TON     McCLELLAN. 

you  to  yield  to  their  schemes,  and  submit  to  the  yoke  of  their  traitorous  con 
spiracy Government  has  heretofore  carefully  abstained  from  sending  troops 

across  the  Ohio,  or  even  from  posting  them  along  its  banks,  although  frequently 
urged  by  many  of  your  prominent  citizens  to  do  so.  It  determined  to  await  the 
result  of  the  late  election,  desirous  that  no  one  might  be  able  to  say  that  the 
slightest  effort  had  been  made  from  this  side  to  influence  the  free  expression  of 
your  opinion.  ....  I  have  ordered  troops  to  cross  the  river.  They  come  as  your 
friends  and  your  brothers — as  enemies  only  to  the  armed  rebels  who  are  preying 

upon  you All  your  rights  shall  be  religiously  respected."  To  his  soldiers 

he  said:  "I  place  under  the  safeguard  of  your  honor  the  persons  and  property 
of  the  Virginians.  I  know  that  you  will  respect  their  feelings  and  all  their 
rights.  Preserve  the  strictest  discipline :  remember  that  each  one  of  you  holds 
in  his  keeping  the  honor  of  Ohio  and  of  the  Union." 

On  June  2d,  the  Union  troops  at  Grafton  went  forward  to  Philippi,  on  the 
Monongahela,  twenty  miles  south  of  Grafton,  which  they  reached  at  daylight  on 
the  next  day,  and  attacked  and  drove  out  a  body  of  rebels  under  Colonel  Porter- 
field.  Here  they  were  joined,  June  20th,  by  General  McClellan,  who  on  that 
day  assumed  command  in  person  of  the  national  forces  in  Western  Virginia,  and 
began  more  extensive  operations  against  the  enemy.  Meantime  the  rebels  made 
active  preparations  to  resist.  Henry  A.  Wise,  formerly  governor  of  Virginia,  but 
appointed  a  general  in  the  rebel  army,  took  the  field  in  the  Kanawha  region  of 
Western  Virginia,  and,  with  the  usual  affectation  of  patriotism,  called  upon  the 
people  to  "  come  to  the  defence  of  the  commonwealth  invaded  and  insulted  by  a 
ruthless  and  unnatural  enemy ;"  while  General  Garnett,  formerly  of  the  United 
States  army,  occupied  Laurel  Hill  and  Rich  Mountain,  spurs  of  the  Alleghany 
range,  with  ten  thousand  men. 

General  Cox  was  sent  against  Wise,  and  General  McClellan  advanced  in 
person  against  Garnett.  Beverly,  in  Randolph  county,  Virginia,  is  approached 
on  the  north  by  a  road  from  Philippi,  and  on  the  west  by  a  road  from  Buck- 
hannon.  Laurel  Hill  is  upon  the  former  road,  and  Rich  Mountain  upon  the 
latter ;  and  both  roads,  at  the  point  where  they  cross  the  hills,  were  obstructed  by 
Garnett's  intrenchments.  Garnett  himself,  with  six  thousand  men,  was  at  Laurel 
Hill,  supposing  doubtless  that,  as  that  point  was  nearest  to  Philippi,  the  attack 
would  be  made  there.  But  General  McClellan  marched  from  Clarksburg,  on  the 
North-western  Virginia  Railroad,  advanced  directly  toward  Beverly  by  the  Buck- 
hannon  road,  and  thus  came  upon  the  position  at  Rich  Mountain.  Colonel  Pe- 
gram,  Garnett's  subordinate,  held  that  place  with  four  thousand  men.  At  the 
foot  of  the  hill,  on  the  western  slope,  was  a  very  strong  work  built  of  trees 
felled  from  the  hill-side,  filled  in  with  earth,  and  furnished  with  artillery.  Dense 
woods  encircled  it  for  a  mile  in  every  direction,  and  it  could  not  have  been 


GEORGE     ERIN  TON     McCLELLAN.  287 

carried  from  the  front  without  great  loss.  On  the  top  of  the  mountain  was  a 
smaller  work,  with  two  six-pounders.  A  sharp  skirmish  took  place  in  front  of 
the  lower  fort,  July  10th ;  and  on  the  llth,  at  daylight,  General  Rosecrans,  with 
four  regiments,  was  sent  around  the  southern  slope  of  the  mountain,  to  carry  the 
small  work  above,  and  take  the  larger  one  in  the  rear.  After  an  arduous  march 
of  eight  miles,  he  reached  the  summit  and  carried  the  work,  with  but  small  loss. 
Meanwhile,  General  McClellan  below  had  cut  a  road  through  the  wood  which 
surrounded  the  rebel  battery,  and  had  arranged  a  position  for  twelve  guns,  with 
which  to  participate  in  the  attack  to  be  made  from  above ;  but  as  soon  as  the 
rebels  in  the  lower  fort  learned  that  the  fort  on  the  hill-top  was  taken,  they  aban 
doned  their  work,  and  fled  in  every  direction.  By  this  action  the  rebels  lost  six 
brass  cannon,  two  hundred  tents,  sixty  wagons,  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  in 
killed  and  wounded,  and  one  hundred  prisoners.  Only  six  hundred  men  of  the 
enemy  retained  any  organization,  and  with  these  Colonel  Pegram  retreated  toward 
Laurel  Hill.  General  McClellan,  by  a  rapid  march,  occupied  Beverly. 

Garnett,  as  soon  as  he  learned  of  Pegram's  rout  at  Rich  Mountain,  aban 
doned  his  intrenchrnents  at  Laurel  Hill,  and  retreated  toward  Beverly ;  but  the 
rapid  occupation  of  that  place  by  General  McClellan  cut  off  his  retreat  in  that 
direction,  and  in  great  confusion  he  turned  back  and  retreated  toward  St.  George, 
in  Tucker  county,  to  the  north-east  of  Laurel  Hill.  Thus  ten  thousand  rebel 
troops  from  Eastern  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Georgia,  and  Sbuth  Carolina,  were 
driven  out  of  their  intrenchments,  with  a  loss  to  the  Union  forces  of  only  eleven 
men  killed  and  thirty-five  wounded.  On  the  13th,  Colonel  Pegram  surrendered 
what  was  left  of  his  command  (six  hundred  officers  and  men)  prisoners,  uncondi 
tionally. 

Immediately  upon  the  retreat  of  Garnett  toward  St.  George,  General  Morris 
was  ordered  to  follow  him,  and  General  Hill  was  ordered  forward  from  Rawles- 
burg  to  intercept  his  retreat.  General  Garnett,  finding  himself  pressed  very 
closely  by  the  brigade  of  General  Morris,  made  a  stand  in  an  advantageous  posi 
tion  at  Carrick's  Ford,  on  the  Cheat  River,  eight  miles  south  of  St.  George. 
There  he  was  handsomely  beaten  by  the  seventh  and  ninth  Indiana  and  the 
fourteenth  Ohio  regiments.  General  Garnett  was  killed,  his  army  disorganized, 
and  its  whole  baggage  taken.  Thus,  by  a  series  of  brilliant  movements,  and  in 
only  twenty-four  days  after  General  McClellan  had  assumed  the  command,  this 
portion  of  Western  Virginia  was  freed,  and  the  army  that  lately  held  it  became 
a  demoralized  band  of  fugitives.  In  recognition  of  this  first  considerable  success 
of  the  war,  both  houses  of  Congress,  on  June  16th,  passed  a  joint  resolution  of 
thanks  to  General  McClellan  and  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command. 

In  an  address  to  the  "  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  West,"  dated  subse 
quently  to  these  battles,  General  McClellan  said:  "You  have  annihilated  two 


288  GEORGE     BRINTON     McCLELLAN. 

armies,  commanded  by  educated  and  experienced  soldiers,  intrenched  in  moun 
tain  fastnesses,  and  fortified  at  their  leisure.  You  have  taken  five  guns,  twelve 
colors,  fifteen  hundred  stand  of  arms,  and  one  thousand  prisoners,  including  more 
than  forty  officers.  One  of  the  second  commanders  of  the  rebels  is  a  prisoner, 
the  other  lost  his  life  on  the  field  of  battle.  You  have  killed  more  than  two 
hundred  and  fifty  of  the  enemy,  who  has  lost  all  his  baggage  and  camp-equipage. 
All  this  has  been  accomplished  with  the  loss  of  twenty  brave  men  killed  and 
sixty  wounded  on  your  part.  You  have  proved  that  Union  men,  fighting  for 
the  preservation  of  our  government,  are  more  than  a  match  for  our  misguided 
brothers.  Soldiers !  I  have  confidence  in  you,  and  I  trust  that  you  have  learned 
to  confide  in  me.  Remember  that  discipline  and  subordination  are  qualities  of 
equal  value  with  courage." 

Three  days  after  the  above  order  was  issued,  the  national  army  that  had 
been  organized  near  Washington,  under  the  -eye  of  the  veteran  cornmander-in- 
chief,  was  defeated  in  the  disastrous  battle  at  Bull  Run,  and  returned  to  the  bank 
of  the  Potomac  in  a  wild,  disordered  rout.  Startled  by  this  blow,  the  govern 
ment  first  awoke  to  the  great  labor  to  be  accomplished  in  putting  down  the 
rebellion.  Regiments  before  refused,  and  all  now  offered,  were  immediately 
accepted,  and  it  wras  determined  to  add  at  least  one  hundred  thousand  men  to 
the  Potomac  army.  General  McClellan  was  ordered  to  Washington,  to  take 
command  of  this  new  force,  and  of  the  departments  of  Washington  and  North 
eastern  Virginia.  He  left  Beverly  June  23d,  and  arrived  at  the  capital  July 
25th.  His  first  order  to  the  army  was  dated  July  30th.  In  that  he  described 
the  first  practice  he  had  observed  "  eminently  prejudicial  to  good  order  and  mili 
tary  discipline,"  and  plainly  declared  that  "it  must  be  discontinued."  Officers 
and  soldiers  were  therefore  strictly  forbidden  to  leave  their  camps  and  quarters, 
except  on  important  public  business,  and  then  not  without  written  permission 
from  the  commander  of  the  brigade  to  which  they  belonged.  Washington  was 
thus  cleared  of  an  army  of  loungers ;  and  officers  and  soldiers,  confined  to  their 
camps,  found  time  to  learn  their  respective  duties. 

On  August  3d,  General  McClellan's  appointment  as  a  major-general  in  the 
United  States  army  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate ;  and  on  August  20th,  by  gen 
eral  order,  he  assumed  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  announced 
the  officers  of  his  staff.  Lieutenant-General  Scott  was  retired  from  active  service 
November  1st,  1861,  and  on  the  same  day  General  McClellan  was  appointed  to 
succeed  him  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  Both 
before  and  after  this  accession  of  authority,  he  labored  without  intermission,  and 
with  noble  earnestness  and  simple  purpose,  to  prepare  for  a  proper  discharge  of 
its  duties  to  the  great  army  called  out  by  the  government.  His  many  judicious 
orders  in  regulation  of  the  actions  of  officers  and  soldiers,  and  the  system  of 


GEORGE      BRINTOX     McCLELLAN.  289 

frequent  reviews  that  he  introduced,  rendered  it  necessary  that  all  should  work 
to  keep  up  with  him,  and  gave  some  unity  to  the  army. 

After  the  retirement  of  the  Lieutenant-General,  the  whole 'military  operations 
of  the  country  came  under  the  control  of  General  McClellan ;  and,  though  it  is 
not  now  possible  to  say  how  great  a  share  we  owe  to  him  of  the  successes  that 
crowned  our  arms  in  the  beginning  of  the  spring  of  1862,  yet  by  the  admissions 
of  the  general  officers  most  conspicuous  in  those  actions  it  appears  that  they  are 
all  parts  of  one  extensive  plan  of  his  arrangement.  On  March  eleventh.  General 
McClellan  took  the  field  for  active  operations  at  the  head  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  by  the  special  order  of  the  President  was  relieved  from  the  com 
mand  of  the  other  departments. 

His  attention  was  now  given  wholly  to  one  object — the  capture  of  Richmond, 
which  would  lead,  it  was  supposed,  to  the  evacuation  of  Virginia — and  to  our 
army,  that  of  the  Potomac  ;  so  that  henceforth  the  history  of  this  army  becomes 
the  history  of  General  McClellan.     To  attain  the  principal  object  of  the  campaign 
of  1862,  General  McClellan  determined,  with  the  President's  approval,  to  trans 
port  his  troops  to  the  peninsula  stretching  between  the  James  and  York  Rivers 
in  Virginia,  and  assuming  Fort  Monroe  as  the  first  base,  take  up  the  line  of 
Yorktown  and  West-Point  upon  Richmond  as  the  line  of  operations,  "  Richmond 
being  the  objective  point."     It  was  also  decided  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  the 
navy,  which,  by  controlling  the  two  rivers,  would  protect  the  flanks  of  the  army 
and  provide  necessary  transportation.     In  pursuance  of  this  plan,  the  main  body 
of  the  army  was  moved  back,  on  the  fifteenth  of  March,  to  the  vicinity  of  Alex 
andria  to  be  embarked.     As  rapidly  as  transports  could  be  supplied,  the  different 
divisions  embarked,  followed,  on  the  first  of  April,  by  General  McClellan  himself 
in  the  steamer  Commodore.     On  reaching  Fort  Monroe  on  the  following  day, 
steps  were  immediately  taken  for  the  advance  upon  the  rebel  capital,  and  on  the 
fourth  and  fifth  of  April  the  army  took  up  its  line  of  march  for  Richmond.     To 
give  a  detailed  account  of  the  progress  of  the  Federal  troops  would  be  foreign  to 
our  purpose,  and  more  than  our  limited  space  will  admit.    Suffice  it  to  say,  there 
fore,  that  after  a  protracted  siege  of  nearly  a  month,  the  "  historic  field  "  of  York- 
town,  where  the  rebels  were  strongly  intrenched,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Union 
forces,  having  been  abandoned  by  the  enemy  on  the  night  of  the  second  of  May. 
This  was  followed  by  the  battle  and  occupation  of  Williamsburgh  three  days 
afterward,  the  occupation  of  West-Point  on  the  York  River,  and  of  White  House 
on  the  Pamunkey.     The  gradual  advance  of  the  army  toward  Richmond,  and  the 
strategical  skill  evinced  by  its  commander,  induced  the  House  of  Representatives, 
on  the  ninth  of  May,  to  adopt  resolutions  expressive  of  its  thanks  to  General 
McClellan  for  "  the  display  of  those  high  military  qualities  which  secure  import 
ant  results  with  but  little  sacrifice  of  life."     On  the  seventeenth  of  May,  the 


290  GEORGE   BRINTON   McCLELLAN. 

advance-guard  of  McClellan's  army  readied  the  Chickahominy  Eiver,  at  Bot 
tom's  Bridge,  about  fifteen  miles  from  Kichmond.  The  river  was  crossed  dur 
ing  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  and  was  the  signal  for  desperate  efforts  on 
the  part  of  the  rebels  to  drive  them  from  the  field.  The  almost  constant  suc 
cession  of  battles,  the  ravages  of  sickness,  and  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the 
enemy  at  length  led  General  McClellan  to  leave  the  line  of  the  Chickahominy 
and  establish  a  new  base  on  the  James,  in  order,  as  he  said,  "  to  save  the  material 
and  personel  of  the  army."  Accordingly,  on  the  twenty -seventh  of  June,  White 
House  was  evacuated,  and  the  Union  army  commenced  its  retreat,  in  the  course 
of  which  it  passed  through  the  memorable  and  bloody  battles  of  the  "  Seven 
Days'  Contest,"  repelling  the  pursuing  foe  in  every  assault,  and  reaching  Har 
rison's  Bar  on  the  James,  in  safety,  on  the  second  of  July.  This  position  was 
held  until  the  eleventh  of  August,  when  the  evacuation,  ordered  in  consequence 
of  the  rebel  advance  in  the  direction  of  Washington,  began,  and  was  completed 
on  the  sixteenth.  On  the  twenty-fourth  of  July,  the  army  reached  Acquia  Creek, 
and  immediately  joined  the  army  of  Virginia,  under  General  Pope,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  driving  back  the  rebel  invaders.  Thus  finished  the  Peninsula  campaign. 
It  being  reported  that  the  rebel  army  was  moving  up  the  Shenandoah  Val 
ley,  and  Washington  being  deemed  in  danger,  General  McClellan,  on  his  return 
from  the  Peninsula,  was  appointed,  on  the  first  of  September,  to  the  command  of 
the  fortifications  at  Washington,  his  jurisdiction  being  limited  to  the  works  and 
their  garrisons.  On  the  seventh,  General  McClellan  left  the  capital  to  take  com 
mand  of  the  army  in  person,  leaving  General  Banks  in  charge  at  Washington 
during  his  absence.  The  demoralizing  effects  of  the  disastrous  campaign  under 
Pope,  which  followed  the  return  of  the  army  from  the  Peninsula,  were  soon  coun 
teracted  by  the  thorough  reorganization  effected  by  General  McClellan ;  the 
troops  were  again  confident  and  anxious,  under  their  old  leader,  to  meet  the  foe. 
The  mass  of  the  rebel  army  under  General  Lee,  had  by  this  time  passed  up  the 
'south  side  of  the  Potomac  in  the  direction  of  Leesburgh,  a  portion  having  crossed 
into  Maryland.  General  McClellan  started  immediately  but  cautiously  in  pursuit, 
following  the  north  bank  of  the  Potomac.  On  the  fourteenth  of  September,  the 
rebel  army  was  attacked  at  South-Mountain,  in  Maryland,  where  Lee  had  massed 
his  forces.  A  severe  battle,  lasting  all  day,  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  rebels, 
who  abandoned  the  field  during  the  night,  retreating  toward  the  river.  General 
McClellan  speedily  followed  their  receding  columns,  and  on  the  seventeenth 
fought  his  last  battle  as  commander  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  banks 
of  Antietam  Creek.  This  bloody  struggle,  which  lasted  from  dawn  till  dark, 
must  be  regarded  in  some  respects  as  indecisive,  though  the  rebel  loss  far  exceeded 
that  of  the  Union  forces.  While  General  McClellan  was  deliberating  what  course 
to  pursue,  General  Lee  recrossed  the  Potomac  on  the  night  of  the  eighteenth. 


GEORGE    •  BRINTON      M c C L E L L A N .  201 

The  Federal  cavalry  being  in  a  disabled  condition  and  inadequate  to  a  pursuit, 
the  commanding  general  deemed  it  best  to  retain  the  bulk  of  the  army  at  Antie- 
tam.  On  the  sixth  of  October,  he  received  orders  from  President  Lincoln  to 
cross  the  river  and  follow  General  Lee.  Owing  to  the  deficiency  in  cavalry  and 
the  necessary  supplies  for  the  men,  this  order  remained  unexecuted  till  the  last 
week  of  the  month.  While  near  Warrenton,  in  Virginia,  disposing  his  forces  for 
the  campaign,  General  McClellan  received,  on  the  night  of  the  seventh  of  Novem 
ber,  an  order  relieving  him  from  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
directing  him  to  turn  it  over  to  General  Burnside. 

Before  leaving  the  position  he  had  occupied  so  long,  and  the  men  with  whom 
he  had  engaged  in  so  many  hard-fought  battles,  General  McClellan  issued  a  fare 
well  address,  expressive  of  the  love  and  gratitude  he  bore  toward  his  troops,  and 
telling  them,  in  substance,  that  though  he  now  parted  from  them  officially,  he 
was  still  bound  to  them  by  an  indissoluble  tie,  and  by  the  strongest  associations 
which  can  exist  among  men — the  warm  sympathies  and  glowing  memories  of 
companions  in  arms. 


M 


DAVID    HU^TEE. 

AJOR-GENERAL  HUNTER  was  born  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  and 
entered  as  a  cadet  at  West-Point  in  1818,  where  he  graduated  in  1822,  and 
was  made  Second  Lieutenant  of  the  Fifth  infantry  on  the  first  of  July. 

In  1828,  he  was  appointed  a  First  Lieutenant,  and  two  years  after  a  Captain 
of  the  First  dragoons.  On  the  fourth  of  July,  1836,  he  resigned,  but  on  Novem 
ber  thirtieth,  1841,  returned  to  the  army  as  temporary  paymaster.  The  next 
year  he  was  made  full  paymaster. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  rebellion  he  was,  on  the  fourteenth  of  May, 
appointed  Colonel  of  the  Sixth  regiment  of  cavalry ;  and,  at  the  battle  of  Bull 
Run,  as  a  Brigadier-General,  commanded  the  Second  division,  under  General 
McDowell, 

This  division  marched  to  the  battle-field  by  the  Leesburgh  and  Centreville 
road,  and  thence  by  the  Warrenton  pike  to  Bull  Run,  where  it  took  position  at 
Sudley's  Springs.  The  fight  commenced  on  July  twenty-first,  and  Hunter's  divi 
sion  soon  entered  into  the  thick  of  the  engagement,  but,  unfortunately,  he  was 
wounded  early  in  the  action,  and  had  to  be  carried  from  the  field. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  August,  Hunter  was  made  a  Major-General,  and,  in  the 
following  month,  took  command  of  the  forces  at  Rolla,  Missouri,  as  second  to 
General  Fremont.  On  the  fifth  of  November,  General  Hunter,  as  the  oldest  offi 
cer  on  the  field,  assumed  temporary  command  of  the  whole  Federal  army,  Gene 
ral  Fremont  having  been  -removed  ;  and  one  of  his  first  acts  was  to  express  disap 
proval  of  the  agreement  made  between  Fremont  and  Price.  General  Hunter  had 
occupied  Springfield,  but  on  the  ninth  of  November  abandoned  it  and  moved 
toward  Rolla,  there  to  await  the  orders  of  Major-General  Halleck,  who  had  been 
appointed  to  command  the  Western  department,  and  who  arrived  at  St.  Louis  on 
the  eighteenth. 

General  Hunter  was  now  appointed  to  the  military  division  of  Kansas, 
where,  on  the  eleventh  of  February,  1862,  he  proclaimed  martial  law.  While  in 
this  department  he  materially  aided  in  the  military  operations  then  carried  on 
under  General  Halleck,  who  wrote  to  him  as  follows  : 

"  To  you,  more  than  any  other  man  out  of  this  department,  are  we  indebted 
for  our  success  at  Fort  Donelson.  In  my  strait  for  troops  to  reenforce  General 


MA. I  GETS!    DAVID   HUNTER 


DAVID      HUNTER.  293 

Grant  I  applied  to  3-011.     You  responded  nobly,  by  placing  your  forces  at  my  dis 
posal.     This  enabled  me  to  win  the  victory.     Kcceive  my  most  heartfelt  thanks." 

On  the  eleventh  of  March,  General  Hunter's  department  was  consolidated 
with  that  of  Halleck's,  and,  accordingly,  he  was  relieved,  but  was  immediately 
appointed  to  the  department  of  the  South.  He  arrived  at  Port  Royal,  S.  C.,  at 
the  end  of  the  month,  and  issued  an  order  assuming  command,  and  also  one  of 
thanks  to  his  predecessor,  Brigadier-General  Sherman,  for  valuable  services  and 
information  rendered. 

On  the  tenth  of  April,  General  Hunter  demanded  the  surrender  of  Fort  Pu- 
laski  from  the  rebels,  and  on  receiving  a  negative  reply  from  Colonel  Olmstead, 
the  commander,  he  directed  an  attack  to  be  made,  under  the  immediate  super 
vision  of  Brigadier-General  Gillmore.  Fire  was  opened  upon  the  Fort,  the  bom 
bardment  continuing  without  intermission  for  thirty  hours.  At  the  end  of  eigh 
teen  hours'  firing  the  Fort  was  breached  in  the  south-east  angle,  and  at  the 
moment  of  surrender,  at  two  P.M.  of  the  eleventh,  preparations  had  been  com 
menced  for  storming.  In  his  report,  General  Hunter  gives  great  praise  to  the 
various  officers  directing  the  several  movements,  and  he  expresses  an  opinion  that 
"  the  result  of  the  bombardment  must  cause  a  change  in  the  construction  of  forti 
fications,  for  no  works  of  stone  or  brick  can  resist  the  impact  of  rifled  artillery  of 
heavy  calibre/' 

On  the  ninth  of  May,  he  issued  an  order  stating  that  the  States  of  South- 
Carolina,  Georgia,  and  Florida  were,  on  and  from  the  twenty-fifth  April  preced 
ing,  under  martial  law,  and  added :  "  Slavery  and  martial  law  in  a  free  country 
are  altogether  incompatible.  The  persons  in  these  States  heretofore  held  as 
slaves  are,  therefore,  declared  for  ever  free."  The  President,  however,  disavowed 
this,  on  the  ground  that  compensation  should  attend  emancipation.  But  Hunter'? 
order  elicited  the  sentiments  of  many  people  on  the  subject,  and  with  regard  tc 
the  policy  of  the  Government. 

This  induced  General  Hunter  to  resign  his  command,  but  in  a  short  time 
afterward  he  was  reappointed  to  the  same  department.  On  the  second  of  June,  he 
left  Hilton  Head  to  accompany  the  expedition  against  James  Island,  as  planned  by 
General  Benham,  but  he  returned  in  a  short  time. 

During  the  period  of  General  Hunter's  stay  in  command  of  the  South,  there 
was  not  much  done  in  the  way  of  active  operations,  owing  to  the  small  force  at  his 
disposal. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  April,  1863,  Hunter  wrote  to  Jefferson  Davis  with 
reference  to  colored  prisoners,  and  threatened  retaliation  if  they  were  harshly 
or  unjustifiably  treated.  In  May,  he  addressed  the  Governor  of  Massachu 
setts,  and  bore  testimony  to  the  general  good  conduct  of  the  negro  troops. 
He  had  previously  caused  the  able-bodied  negroes  from  the  neighboring  planta- 


294  DAVID      HUNTER. 

tions  to  be  formed  into  regiments  and  drilled  by  competent  officers,  and  he  now 
concluded  that  they  could  be  made  excellent  soldiers. 

On  the  twelfth  of  June,  1863,  General  Hunter  was  relieved  from  his  com 
mand,  and  on  the  fourteenth  of  November  was  sent  on  a  tour  of  inspection  through 
the  military  district  of  the  Mississippi. 

On  the  twentieth  of  Ma}',  1864,  he  was  appointed  to  relieve  Sigel  in  com 
mand  of  West-Virginia,  and  on  the  twenty-second  arrived  at  Cumberland,  taking 
up  his  headquarters  in  the  field.  Immediately  afterward  he  issued  an  imperative 
order  in  relation  to  derelict  officers  of  guards  and  outposts.  The  occasion  of  this 
was,  a  cavalry  officer  on  picket-duty  had  allowed  himself  to  be  surprised  by  the 
enemy  and  his  command  captured.  This  officer  General  Hunter  discharged  from 
the  service,  and  then  publicly  announced  his  intention  to  show  no  leniency  to 
future  offenders,  for  "  any  act  of  mercy  in  such  cases  would  be  a  crime  against  the 
whole  command  put  in  jeopardy  by  their  negligence  or  inefficiency."  On  the 
other  hand,  he  said  that  ' '  all  who  faithfully  did  their  duty  should  be  promptly 
recognized  and  rewarded."  This  order  was  soon  followed  by  another,  giving  di 
rections  for  all  superfluous  baggage  and  material  to  be  sent  back  to  Martins- 
burgh,  and  the  whole  army  under  his  command  to  be  kept  in  such  an  efficient 
state  that  prompt  and  energetic  movements  could  be  made.  Strict  discipline 
would  be  enforced,  and  all  brigade  and  other  commanders  would  be  held  responsi 
ble  for  any  negligence  or  disregard  in  this  respect. 

On  the  first  of  June  the  enemy  made  an  attempt  to  check  the  advance  of 
Hunter's  army,  but  were  repulsed,  and  our  forces  marched  on  to  Harrisonburgh, 
which  was  occupied  without  any  difficulty.  On  leaving  Harrisonburgh,  Hunter 
divided  his  men  into  two  columns,  one  taking  the  direct  road  to  Staunton,  and 
the  other  to  Port  Republic.  This  latter  there  encountered  the  enemy,  who  were 
driven  back,  while  the  first  or  right  column  of  the  army  got  into  an  engagement 
near  Mount  Crawford  with  the  rebels  under  General  Jones.  The  fight  occurred 
on  the  fifth  of  June,  and  resulted  in  complete  success  to  the  Union  cause.  Jones 
was  killed,  and  Hunter's  victory  was  so  complete  that,  after  capturing  twenty 
guns,  several  prisoners,  and  a  large  quantity  of  stores,  he  was  able,  without  oppo 
sition,  to  enter  Staunton,  which  had  been  hastily  evacuated  at  his  approach.  At 
the  same  time  he  effected  a  junction  with  Generals  Crook  and  Averill. 

From  Staunton  Hunter  proceeded  to  Lexington,  driving  before  him  a  large 
rebel  force  of  cavalry,  and  thence  taking  the  route  to  Lynchburgh  by  way  of  Bu 
chanan.  On  the  seventeenth  of  June,  the  enemy  made  a  stand  at  about  four 
miles  from  Lynchburgh,  but  after  a  fight  of  three  or  four  hours  were  forced  to 
continue  their  retreat.  The  next  day,  General  Hunter  heard  of  the  enemy  having 
been  heavily  reenforced  from  Richmond,  and  finding  himself  running  short 
of  ammunition,  with  a  scarcity  of  supplies,  it  was  determined  in  a  council  of 


DAVID      HUNTER.  295 

war  to  retreat.  Accordingly,  he  moved  back  to  Salem  via  Liberty.  At  both 
places  the  enemy,  in  force,  attacked  him,  but  were  repulsed,  and  this,  too,  under 
difficulties  that  most  severely  tried  both  officers  and  men.  Want  of  food,  added 
to  a  march  over  wild  and  abrupt  mountains,  and  through  dangerous  passes  with 
forest-clad  steeps  of  great  height  on  either  side,  taxed  the  forbearance  of  all  to  the 
utmost  limits.  Still  General  Hunter  contrived  to  keep  his  army  together  until 
reaching  Meadow's  Bluff,  where  more  than  a  million  rations  had  been  left  by  Crook 
and  Averill  a  few  days  previous,  under  charge  of  two  Ohio  militia  regiments. 
Great  was  the  disappointment  on  finding  these  militiamen  had  been  driven  away 
by  guerrillas,  and  had  taken  some  of  the  provisions  with  them  to  Loup  Creek. 
Thither  General  Hunter's  forces  followed,  and  at  Gauley  Bridge  was  met  by  the 
supply-trains  he  had  ordered.  Thence,  in  advance  of  his  command,  he  reached 
Parkersburgh,  and  there,  for  the  first  time,  heard  of  the  rebel  raid  into  Maryland. 
Immediately  he  labored  hard  to  reequip  and  hurry  forward  his  troops,  but  the  rail 
way  had  been  greatly  damaged  by  the  rebels,  and  the  Ohio  had  not  over  two  feet 
of  water-depth  in  it.  This  greatly  impeded  the  sending  on  his  men  in  time ; 
nevertheless,  by  great  exertions,  he  managed  to  despatch  ten  thousand  of  them 
before  the  sixteenth  July. 

Meanwhile,  however,  the  War  Office  had  given  orders  for  all  his  available 
troops  to  report  to  Major-General  Wright,  and,  deeming  this  virtually  a  censure 
upon  him,  he  has  now  demanded  to  be  relieved  of  his  command,  though  still 
actively  engaged  in  directing  his  forces  against  the  enemy. 


GEORGE     STONEMAN". 

MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  STONEMAN  was  born  at  Busti,  Chautauque 
County,  New- York,  August  eighth,  1822.  His  father  was  a  respectable 
farmer,  and  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  the  Western  part  of  the  State,  to  which 
he  removed  just  after  the  war  of  1812.  The  son  entered  West-Point  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  and  was  graduated  in  1846,  standing  thirty -third  in  a  class  of  fifty- 
nine.  McClellan,  Stonewall  Jackson,  Foster,  Reno,  and  Couch  were  his  class 
mates,  and  Stonewall  Jackson  was  his  room-mate. 

On  leaving  West-Point,  Stoneman  was  attached  to  the  First  dragoons,  then 
commanded  by  the  gallant  Stephen  Watts  Kearny,  and  ordered  at  once  to  join 
his  company  at  Fort  Leaven  worth.  He  was  put  in  charge  of  the  first  wagon- 
train  sent  from' that  post  to  Santa  F6,  over  what  was  then  called  the  "Santa  Fe 
trail."  The  animals  nearly  all  gave  out  for  want  of  grass  and  water,  and  Lieu 
tenant  Stoneman  determined  to  go  on  ahead  to  Santa  Fe  and  procure  fresh  ones. 
Taking  with  him  one  man,  he  made  the  journey  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  miles 
through  a  country  inhabited  by  hostile  Indians  and  still  more  hostile  Mexicans, 
in  four  days  ;  obtained  the  animals,  returned  to  his  companions,  and  brought 
the  train  through  in  safety.  By  this  time,  however,  his  dragoon  company  had 
started  for  California  with  General  Kearny,  and  he  was  ordered  to  accompany  the 
Mormon  battalion,  as  Quartermaster,  in  their  celebrated  march  from  Nauvoo 
through  Santa  Fe  to  California.  As  soon  as  they  reached  their  destination,  in 
January,  1847,  Lieutenant  Stoneman  joined  his  company  at  San  Diego,  and  for 
the  next  six  years  was  constantly  with  it,  patrolling  various  parts  of  the  Pacific 
territories,  punishing  hostile  Indians,  surveying  and  opening  roads,  escorting  ex 
ploring  parties,  etc. 

In  1854,  he  travelled  through  Mexico  and  the  West-Indies.  The  same  year 
he  was  promoted  to  be  First  Lieutenant.  Returning  to  California  in  January, 
1855,  he  became  aid-do  camp  to  Major-General  Wool,  then  commanding  the  De 
partment  of  the  Pacific,  but  he  did  not  retain  that  position  long,  for  having  been 
appointed  Captain  in  the  Second  dragoons,  he  joined  his  regiment,  then  com 
manded  by  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri,  in  Septem 
ber  of  the  same  year.  The  regiment  set  out  for  Texas  in  November,  and  from 
that  time  until  the  rebellion  of  1861,  except  for  about  a  year  and  a  half,  during 


GEORGE      STONEMAN.  297 

which  he  travelled  in  Europe,  Captain  Stoneman  was  actively  employed  in  Texas 
and  New-Mexico. 

He  was  the  first  to  inform  General  Scott  of  General  Twiggs's  treasonable  in 
tentions,  and  when  the  Texan  commissioners  came  to  him  with  an  order  from 
General  Twiggs  to  turn  over  to  the  State  authorities  all  the  property  under  his 
control,  he  peremptorily  refused  to  obey.  He  was  in  command  of  Fort  Brown 
when  orders  were  issued  for  the  withdrawal  of  all  the  United  States  troops  from 
the  State.  Foreseeing  that  he  would  have  difficulty  in  getting  away  if  he  waited 
for  Government  transports,  he  chartered  a  steamer  to  convey  his  command  to 
New -York. 

In  June,  he  was  promoted  to  be  Major  in  the  Fourth  cavalry.  He  served  in 
Western  Virginia,  as  Acting  Inspector-General,  on  the  staff  of  General  McClellan, 
and  accompanied  his  chief  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac  after  the  first  battle  of 
Bull  Hun.  In  August,  he  was  appointed  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers  and 
Chief  of  cavalry.  His  duties  from  that  time  until  after  the  evacuation  of  York- 
town  were  chiefly  connected  writh  the  organization  of  his  arm  of  the  service.  He 
began  the  battle  of  Williamsburgh,  and  led  the  pursuit  of  the  retreating  enemy 
with  a  force  of  cavalry,  infantry,  and  flying-artillery,  pushing  them  within  five 
miles  of  Richmond.  During  the  campaign  on  the  Chickahominy  his  troops  were 
posted  on  the  extreme  right  flank  as  a  corps  of  observation.  Cut  off  from  the 
main  body  at  the  battle  of  Gaines's  Mill,  he  first  pushed  his  command  to  the 
White  House,  in  order  to  assist  in  the  evacuation  of  that  depot,  and  then  pro 
ceeded  with  all  the  animals  and  wagons  to  Yorktown  and  Fortress  Monroe,  re 
joining  McClellan  at  Harrison's  Landing  by  way  of  James  River. 

During  General  Pope's  Virginia  campaign  the  cavalry  was  distributed  among 
the  different  corps,  and  General  Stoneman,  after  the  death  of  Kearny,  took  com 
mand  of  that  officer's  division  in  Heintzelman's  army  corps.  He  succeeded  to 
the  command  of  the  Third  corps  when  Heintzelman  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
defences  of  Washington.  After  the  battle  of  Antietam,  we  find  him  in  command 
of  a  division  temporarily  attached  to  the  Ninth  corps,  but  he  was  soon  once  more 
at  the  head  of  the  cavalry  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  at  the  time  of  Gene 
ral  Hooker's  attack  upon  Chancellorsville,  in  May,  1863,  distinguished  himself 
by  a  daring  and  successful  raid  in  the  rear  of  Lee's  army.  Crossing  the  Up 
per  Rappahannock,  fur  to  the  right  of  Hooker,  he  divided  his  force  into  three 
columns,  one  of  which  under  Buford  marched  toward  Gordonsville,  another 
under  Averill  to  Culpeper,  while  Stoneman  himself,  with  the  third,  moved 
straight  toward  Richmond.  He  penetrated  within  the  intrenchments  of  the  rebel 
capital,  and  there  detached  Colonel  Kilpatrick  with  a  few  troopers,  who  pro 
ceeded  down  the  Peninsula  to  Gloucester  Point.  The  main  body  having  ridden 
entirely  around  the  rebel  army,  destroying  bridges,  railroads,  locomotives,  forges, 


298  GEORGE      STONE MAN. 

mills,  and  factories,  together  with  vast  quantities  of  grain,  stores,  and  ammuni 
tion,  and  capturing  over  five  hundred  prisoners,  recrossed  the  Eappahannock  at 
Kelly's  Ford,  and  rejoined  Hooker  on  the  eighth  of  May,  after  an  absence  of 
about  five  days.  His  loss  was  very  slight. 

On  the  organization  of  the  Cavalry  Bureau  at  Washington  in  the  latter  part 
of  July,  1863,  General  Stoneman  was  placed  in  charge  of  it ;  but  before  the  open 
ing  of  the  next  campaign  he  was  again  ordered  to  the  field,  and  assigned  com 
mand  of  a  corps  under  General  Sherman. 


WILLIAM   STAEKE   ROSECEAI^S. 

"TTTILLIAM  STARKE  ROSECRANS  was  born  in  Kingston,  Delaware 
f  V  county,  Ohio,  December  6th,  1819.  His  father  emigrated  to  Ohio  from 
the  Wyoming  valley,  in  1808.  His  mother,  Jemima  Hopkins,  was  the  daughter 
of  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  His  early  life  was  passed  in  close  application  to 
studv,  and  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  entered  the  United  States  military  academy 
at  West  Point ;  whence  he  graduated,  third  in  mathematics  and  fifth  in  general 
merit,  in  1842.  He  received  the  brevet  of  second-lieutenant  of  engineers,  July 
1st ;  served  that  year  at  Fortress  Monroe  as  first  assistant-engineer,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  R.  E.  De  Russey ;  and  was  ordered  to  duty  at  West 
Point,  in  September,  1843,  as  assistant  professor  of  engineering.  From  August, 
1844,  until  August,  1845,  he  served  as  assistant  professor  of  natural  and  experi 
mental  philosophy  at  the  military  academy,  and  in  1845,  '46,  and  '47,  in  the  engi! 
neering  department  as  assistant  and  first  assistant  professor.  He  also  served  as 
post-quartermaster  at  West  Point  for  some  months. 

In  1847,  Lieutenant  Rosecrans  was  assigned  to  duty  at  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  to  reconstruct  the  large  military  wharves  destroyed  by  a  storm — an 
appointment  regarded  as  an  official  recognition  of  his  great  ability  as  an  en 
gineer.  Here  he  remained  until  1852,  when  he  was  charged  with  the  survey 
(made  under  act  of  Congress)  of  New -Bedford  harbor,  Taunton  River,  and  Provi 
dence  harbor.  From  April  till  November,  1853,  he  served  as  constructing  engi 
neer  at  the  Washington  navy-yard,  when,  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  tendered 
his  resignation  to  the  secretary  of  war,  Jefferson  Davis.  His  resignation  was  not 
accepted ;  but  he  was  given  leave  of  absence,  with  the  understanding  that  if, 
upon  the  expiration  of  the  leave,  the  resignation  was  insisted  upon,  it  would  be 
accepted.  In  April,  1854,  therefore,  Lieutenant  Rosecrans  again  tendered  his 
resignation,  and  retired  from  the  service. 

For  the  next  year  he  occupied  an  office  in  Cincinnati,  as  consulting  engineer 
and  architect ;  and  in  June,  1855,  became  president  of  the  Canal-Coal  Company, 
.  and  superintended  its  work  on  Coal  River,  Virginia,  where  it  was  engaged  in  the 
construction  of  locks  and  dams,  and  in  the  endeavor  to  effect  slack-water  navi 
gation.  This  position  he  relinquished  to  assume  control  of  the  business  of  the 
Cincinnati  Coal- Oil  Company,  in  which  he  was  directly  interested. 


300  WILLIAM  STARKE  ROSECRANS. 

"When  General  McClellan  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Ohio  volunteers,  he 
appointed  Kosecrans  acting  chief  engineer,  with  the  rank  of  major ;  and  the  legis 
lature  of  Ohio  soon  after  created,  purposely  for  him,  and  with  the  rank  of  colonel, 
the  office  of  chief  engineer  of  the  state.  Governor  Dennison  appointed  him,  June 
10th,  colonel  of  the  twenty-third  regiment  Ohio  volunteers,  and  in  that  capacity 
he  went  to  Washington,  and  arranged  for  the  payment  and  maintenance  of  the 
troops  from  his  state. 

Colonel  Rosecrans  was  appointed  a  brigadier-general  of  the  United  States 
army,  June  20th,  1861.  Placed  at  the  head  of  a  brigade,  composed  of  the  eighth 
and  tenth  Indiana  and  the  seventeenth  and  nineteenth  Ohio  regiments,  he  parti 
cipated  in  the  earliest  advance  into  Western  Virginia ;  was  in  command  at  Par- 
kersburg ;  proceeded  thence  to  Grafton,  and  by  Buckhannon,  with  the  other  part 
of  McClellan's  force  to  Rich  Mountain,  where  a  portion  of  the  rebel  General 
Garnett's  force,  variously  stated  at  two  and  four  thousand,  and  commanded  by 
Colonel  Pegram,  were  intrenched  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  on  the  western  slope. 
Before  this  position  some  of  General  Rosecrans's  men  had  a  sharp  skirmish  with 
the  enemy  on  the  10th  of  July,  and  it  was  then  discovered  that  their  work  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  was  a  very  strong  one,  and  was  in  a  position  well  chosen  for 
defence ;  it  was  also  learned  that  they  had  a  much  less  considerable  work  on  the 
summit  of  the  hill.  It  was  therefore  arranged  that,  while  General  McClellan 
made  his  preparations  to  attack  the  larger  work  in  front,  General  Rosecrans  with 
his  brigade  should  reach  the  rear  of  the  rebels,  carry  their  work  on  the  summit 
of  the  hill,  and  participate  from  that  side  in  the  attack  on  the  main  fort. 

In  pursuance  of  this  plan,  General  Rosecrans  left  his  camp  at  Roaring  Run, 
two  miles  west  of  Rich  Mountain,  at  daylight  on  July  llth,  and  advanced  by  a 
pathless  route  through-  the  woods  along  the  south-western  slope  of  the  mountain. 
Compelled  very  often  to  cut  the  way,  and  even  to  build  a  road  for  the  artillery, 
their  progress  was  necessarily  slow.  Much  rain  had  previously  fallen,  and  the 
bushes  were  still  very  wet ;  this,  with  the  cold,  and  the  toilsome  march,  made 
the  service  an  unusually  severe  one.  Yet  they  pressed  on,  silently  and  reso 
lutely,  and,  after  a  circuit  of  eight  miles,  reached  a  point  on  the  road  in  the 
enemy's  rear,  at  three  P.  M.  Although  this  movement  had  been  projected  as  a 
surprise,  the  enemy  was  aware  of  it,  and  prepared :  yet,  after  a  hard  fight  of 
three  quarters  of  an  hour,  he  was  driven  out,  and  his  position  taken. 

This  success  decided  the  fortunes  of  the  rebels  at  Rich  Mountain ;  for  those 
in  the  work  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  abandoned  their  position  in  the  night, 
and  retreated  to  Laurel  Hill.  Nearly  all  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  Union 
men  at  this  place  were  in  General  Rosecrans's  brigade.  General  McClellan  imme 
diately  pushed  on  to  Beverly,  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  force  at  Laurel  Hill ; 
while  General  Rosecrans,  passed  on  the  road,  followed  at  leisure:  and  other 


WILLIAM     STARKE     ROSECRANS.  301 

portions  of  McClellan's  command  went  toward  Laurel  Hill,  and  followed  the 
retreat  of  Garnett  to  Carrick's  Ford. 

Immediately  after  the  destruction  of  the  rebel  force  at  Eich  Mountain  and 
Laurel  Hill,  General  McClellan  began  to  make  active  preparations  to  co-operate 
with  General  Cox,  on  the  Kanawha,  against  the  rebels  under  Wise;  but  the 
preparations  were  delayed  by  news  of  the  national  defeat  at  Bull  Run.  McClel 
lan  was  ordered  to  Washington ;  and  his  army,  then  at  Beverly,  was  counter 
marched  to  Webster,  a  few  miles  south  of  Grafton,  where  he  left  it,  July  23d, 
and  the  command  of  the  department  of  the  Ohio  devolved  upon  General  Eose- 
crans. 

Preparations  for  the  campaign  on  the  Kanawha  were  continued,  but  they 
were  now  retarded  by  the  necessity  for  the  reorganization  of  the  army,  which 
was  composed  in  a  great  degree  of  men  enlisted  for  three  months.  Meantime, 
head-quarters  were  established  at  Clarksburg ;  and  from  that  place,  on  August 
20th,  General  Eosecrans  issued  an  address  to  the  loyal  inhabitants  of  Western 
Virginia.  "  Contrary  to  your  interests  and  your  wishes,"  he  said,  the  Confeder 
ates  "  have  brought  war  upon  your  soil Between  submission  to  them,  and 

subjugation  or  expulsion,  they  leave  you  no  alternative.  They  have  set  neigh 
bor  against  neighbor,  and  friend  against  friend;  they  have  introduced  among 
you  warfare  only  known  among  savages.  In  violation  of  the  laws  of  nations 
and  humanity,  they  have  proclaimed  that  private  citizens  may  and  ought  to 
make  war.  Under  this  bloody  code,  peaceful  citizens,  unarmed  travellers,  and 
single  soldiers,  have  been  shot  down,  and  even  the  wounded  and  defenceless 
have  been  killed ;  scalping  their  victims  is  all  that  is  wanting  to  make  their  war 
fare  like  that  which,  seventy  or  eighty  years  ago,  was  waged  by  the  Indians 
against  the  white  race  on  this  very  ground.  You  have  no  alternative  left  you 
but  to  unite  as  one  man  in  the  defence  of  your  homes,  for  the  restoration  of  law 
and  order,  or  be  subjugated,  or  expelled  from  the  soil.  I  therefore  earnestly 
exhort  you  to  take  the  most  prompt  and  vigorous  measures  to  put  a  stop  to 

neighborhood  and  private  wars Citizens  of  Western  Virginia,  your  fate  is 

mainly  in  your  own  hands.  If  you  allow  yourselves  to  be  trampled  under  foot 
by  hordes  of  disturbers,  plunderers,  and  murderers,  your  land  will  become  a 
desolation.  If  you  stand  firm  for  law  and  order,  and  maintain  your  rights,  you 
may  dwell  together  peacefully  and  happily  as  in  former  days." 

General  Eosecrans  marched  from  Clarksburg,  August  31st,  and  once  more 
put  himself  at  the  head  of  his  army  for  active  operations.  On  the  10th  of  Sep 
tember,  he  reached  the  rebel  intrenchments  in  front  of  Carnifex  Ferry,  and,  after 
a  slight  skirmish,  succeeded  in  routing  General  Floyd,  and  capturing  "  a  few 
prisoners,  two  stand  of  colors,  a  considerable  quantity  of  arms,"  together  with 
some  military  stores. 


302  WILLIAM      STARKE      ROSECRANS. 

Soon  after  this  action,  lie  established  his  headquarters  at  Wheeling,  and  com 
menced  preparations  for  the  campaign  that  was  to  be  opened  in  the  following 
spring ;  but  in  March,  1862,  on  the  creation  of  the  "Mountain  Department,"  and 
the  appointment  of  General  Fremont  to  its  Command,  General  Eosecrans  was  re 
lieved  from  duty  in  Western  Virginia,  and  repaired  to  Washington,  preparatory 
to  entering  the  field  at  the  West. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  by  the  rebels,  he  was  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  army  of  the  Mississippi,  and  during  the  summer,  with  his  headquar 
ters  at  Corinth,  he  employed  his  troops  in  strongly  fortifying  that  place.  But  in 
the  fall  he  began  more  active  operations,  and  moved  upon  the  rebel  forces,  under 
General  Price,  south  of  luka.  It  was  just  before  dark,  on  the  nineteenth  of  Sep 
tember,  that  he  attacked  the  enemy,  and  for  nearly  two  hours  had  a  sharp  fight 
with  them.  The  following  day  he  renewed  the  fight,  and  compelled  them  to  make 
a  rapid  retreat,  losing  one  of  their  generals,  besides  two  hundred  and  sixty-two 
officers  and  men  killed,  four  hundred  severely  wounded,  and  six  hundred  taken 
prisoners. 

General  Eosecrans  now  returned  to  Corinth,  which  was  attacked  on  the  third 
of  October  by  the  rebel  General  Earl  Van  Dorn.  On  the  first  day's  fight  our 
forces  were  driven  from  their  line  of  defences  into  the  town,  but,  on  the  following 
day,  succeeded  in  repulsing  the  rebels  and  again  taking  possession  of  the  works. 
It  was  here  that  General  Eosecrans  again  displayed  those  abilities  which  ranked 
him  as  a  brave  and  skilful  commander.  The  defence  made  by  his  troops  was 
most  determined  and  obstinate  ;  and  the  after-attack  upon  the  rebels  was  such  as 
to  cause  their  complete  rout,  and  the  loss  of  an  immense  number  of  officers  and 
men,  besides  leaving  behind  them  more  than  two  thousand  prisoners,  fourteen 
stands  of  colors,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  three  thousand  three  hundred  stand  of 
small  arms,  and  forty-five  thousand  rounds  of  ammunition,  etc.  The  rebels  were 
pursued  for  forty  miles,  and  in  such  a  way,  under  General  Eosecrans's  skilful 
direction,  that  they  were  intercepted  at  various  points,  losing  more  men,  and  hav 
ing  their  army  completely  broken  up. 

Soon  after  this,  General  Eosecrans  was  appointed  a  Major-General  of  volun 
teers,  his  commission  dating  from  March  twenty-first,  1862,  and,  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  October,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  army  of  the  Ohio,  reliev 
ing  General  Buell.  His  troops  at  this  time  were  massed  at  Bowling  Green  and 
Glasgow,  Ky.,  with  their  base  of  supplies  at  Louisville  ;  but,  soon  after  assuming 
command,  he  marched  on  Nashville,  and  compelled  the  rebels  to  retire  from  their 
investment  of  that  place.  At  this  time,  all  the  region  of  country  south  of  the 
Kentucky  line,  and  portions  of  North- Alabama  and  Georgia  wherein  the  Union 
army  could  operate,  was  formed  into  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland,  over 


WILLIAM      STARKE      ROSECRANS.  303 

which  General  Eosecrans  was  appointed  commander.  Here  lie  soon  had  an  op 
portunity  for  meeting  the  enemy  in  full  force. 

After  the  repulse  at  Nashville,  the  rebels  fell  back  to  Murfreesboro,  where 
they  were  joined  by  more  troops  from  the  Tennessee  Yalley  and  Chattanooga. 
These  were  placed  under  command  of  General  Bragg,  and,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of 
December,  General  Kosecrans  advanced  to  meet  him.  On  the  thirtieth,  after  some 
heavy  skirmishing  by  the  way,  the  Union  forces  reached  the  vicinity  of  Mur 
freesboro,  and  took  up  line  of  battle.  At  daybreak  the  following  morning,  the 
fight  began  by  an  attack  on  the  part  of  the  rebels  against  our  right  wing, 
under  General  McCook.  They  succeeded  in  driving  him  back  with  some  heavy 
loss  in  men  and  artillery.  On  the  next  day  the  battle  was  renewed  without  any 
success ;  but,  on  the  ensuing  one,  January  second,  1868,  after  some  very  severe 
fighting,  the  rebels  were  defeated  with  terrific  slaughter.  In  the  afternoon  they 
had  attacked  our  left  and  forced  it  to  cross  to  the  west  side  of  the  Stone  Eiver ; 
but  there,  a  well-directed  artillery  fire,  supported  by  infantry,  met  them,  and,  in 
forty  minutes,  inflicted  a  loss  in  their  ranks  of  two  thousand  killed  and  wounded. 
General  Rosecrans  now  followed  up  the  advantage.  The  foe  was  panic-stricken  ; 
they  turned  and  fled,  and  the  victory  was  ours. 

On  the  fifth  of  January,  1863,  General  Rosecrans  occupied  Murfreesboro,  and 
pursued  the  enemy  toward  Manchester,  but  the  pursuit  was  given  up,  owing  to 
the  difficulty  of  bringing  up  supplies  and  the  bad  state  of  the  roads. 

Soon  after  this  battle,  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress  was  passed,  giving  thanks 
to  General  Rosecrans  and  the  officers  and  men  of  his  command  for  their  gallantry 
and  good  conduct. 

After  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro  the  rebels  took  position  at  Shelbyville  and 
Tullahoma,  General  Rosecrans  keeping  his  men  in  good  order,  ready  to  attack 
them  again  directly  a  decisive  blow  could  be  successfully  made.  Several  raids 
and  skirmishes  took  place,  and,  on  the  third  of  February,  an  attack  was  made  by 
the  rebels  on  Fort  Donelson,  but  they  were  repulsed.  The  rebels,  however, 
holding  all  the  mountain  passes,  were  able  to  frequently  harass  our  troops,  and 
thus  caused  such  obstacles  in  the  way  of  moving  forward,  that  General  Rosecrans 
deemed  it  the  wisest  course  to  remain  in  position  until  his  communications  and 
supplies  were  perfectly  secure.  This  produced  some  dissatisfaction  in  the  War 
Department  at  Washington,  and  a  correspondence  ensued  which  was  not  alto 
gether  free  from  an  unpleasant  character.  It  was  deemed  injudicious  so  to  delay, 
with  our  own  army  in  good  condition,  and  the  enemy's  known  to  be  materially 
weakened  by  sending  reinforcements  against  Grant  at  Yicksburgh.  The  Presi 
dent  wrote,  saying  :  "I  am  very  much  grieved  by  your  unaccountable  delay.  I  am 
bound  to  believe  that  you,  on  the  ground,  are  the  best  judge  of  what  you  can  do  ; 
but  you  see  how  vitally  important  movement  is,  and  you  give  me  no  reasons  that 


304  WILLIAM      STARKE      ROSECRANS. 

seem  to  me  satisfactory."  Secretary  Stanton  telegraphed  to  the  effect  that  unless 
a  speedy  movement  took  place,  the  country  could  not  justify  his  course.  General 
Halleck  also  intimated  that,  with  every  kind  wish  toward  him,  it  was  certain  that 
the  reputation  of  both  would  be  imperilled  unless,  in  accordance  with  the  exigen 
cies  of  the  service,  a  forward  movement  was  immediately  commenced.  To  all 
this,  General  Kosecrans  answered,  that  he  knew  what  the  country  needed,  and 
what  the  army  also  required.  He  had  never  been  in  the  habit  of  moving  into  a 
place  until  he  could  be  sure  of  staying  there ;  and,  if  he  was  not  competent  to 
command  the  army,  they  could  remove  him ;  but,  while  he  did  remain  in  com 
mand,  he  must  use  his  own  discretion  and  move  as  soon  as  he  got  perfectly  ready. 

The  nature  of  this  correspondence  naturally  caused  a  great  deal  of  irritation, 
and  General  Rosecrans  felt  exceedingly  annoyed,  especially  as,  after  having  ad 
dressed  a  circular  letter  to  all  his  corps  and  cavalry  generals,  he  received  opinions 
in  reply  to  certain  queries  he  had  put,  that  it  was  uncertain  about  the  enemy's 
force  being  weakened ;  that  it  was  very  doubtful  if  we  could  then  fight  a  success 
ful  battle ;  and  that  it  would  be  most  unwise  to  advance  until  the  fate  of  Yicks- 
burgh  was  determined. 

At  length,  on  the  twelfth  of  June,  General  Rosecrans  decided  to  move, 
though,  as  it  is  averred,  against  the  wish  of  his  leading  generals,  and  on  the 
twenty-third  his  army  was  in  motion.  He  moved  upon  the  enemy  well  intrenched 
at  Tullahoma,  covered  in  front  by  the  defiles  of  Duck  River  —  a  deep,  narrow 
stream,  with  few  fords  or  bridges  —  and  a  rough,  rocky  range  of  hills  which  di 
vides  the  barrens  from  the  lower  level  of  Middle  Tennessee.  Bragg's  main  force 
occupied  a  strong  position  north  of  Duck  River  from  Shelbyville,  which  was  forti 
fied  to  Wartrace.  General  Rosecrans  determined  to  make  their  intrenchments 
useless  by  turning  their  left,  and  thus  compel  them  to  fight  on  our  own  ground, 
or  drive  them  in  a  disadvantageous  line  of  retreat.  By  an  admirably  combined 
movement  he  deceived  them  as  to  his  real  plans.  Apparently  advancing  in  force 
upon  Shelbyville,  he  sent  the  mass  of  his  army  on  Manchester,  and  thus  turned 
the  right  of  the  enemy's  defence  of  Duck  River.  Bragg  was  now  compelled  to 
fall  back  on  Tullahoma,  hotly  pursued  by  General  Granger,  who  had  brilliantly 
carried  Shelbyville.  Dispositions  were  immediately  made  to  turn  Tullahoma,  and 
fall  upon  the  enemy's  rear ;  but  Bragg  abandoned  to  us  his  intrenched  camp,  and 
rapidly  fell  back  toward  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  pursued  as  far  as  practicable  by  the 
National  forces. 

On  the  first  of  July,  Tullahoma  was  occupied  by  a  portion  of  our  army,  and 
thus  ended  a  nine  days'  campaign,  which  drove  the  enemy  from  two  fortified  posi 
tions,  and  gave  us  possession  of  Middle  Tennessee.  The  operations  of  our  forces, 
moreover,  were  conducted  in  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  rainy  seasons  ever 
known  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  over  a  soil  that  had  become  almost  a 


WILLIAM      STARKE      ROSECRANS.  305 

quicksand.  If  it  had  not  been  for  such  severe  weather,  the  enemy  would  not 
have  escaped  as  they  did.  As  it  was,  General  Kosecrans  so  successfully,  and  in 
such  a  masterly  manner,  handled  his  heroic  army,  that  much  credit  and  praise 
were  deservedly  his  due. 

After  the  expulsion  of  the  rebels  from  Middle  Tennessee,  Bragg  retreated 
upon  Chattanooga,  which  he  immediately  fortified,  and  threw  up  defensive  works 
at  the  crossing  of  the  river  as  far  up  as  Blythe's  Ferry.  Thither,  on  the  sixteenth 
of  August,  General  Eosecrans  followed  him,  commencing  his  advance  by  crossing 
the  Cumberland  Mountains.  To  command  and  avail  himself  of  the  most  import 
ant  passes,  the  front  of  his  movement  extended  a  distance  of  over  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  from  Whitesburgh  to  Blythe's  Ferry,  and  thus  threatening  the  line 
of  the  Tennessee  River,  which  was  reached  on  the  twentieth  of  August,  and 
Chattanooga  shelled  from  the  north  bank  on  the  following  day.  Pontoon,  boat, 
raft,  and  trestle-bridges  were  immediately  prepared,  and  the  army,  except  cavalry, 
safely  crossed  the  Tennessee  in  the  face  of  the  enemy.  By  the  eighth  of  Septem 
ber,  General  Thomas  had  moved  on  Trenton  and  the  gaps  on  Lookout  Mountain, 
and,  with  other  movements  of  his  army,  General  Rosecrans  so  completely  deceived 
the  enemy  that  Bragg  again  found  himself  turned,  and  immediately  evacuated 
Chattanooga,  which  was  peaceably  taken  possession  of  by  a  corps  of  our  forces 
under  General  Crittenden. 

General  Rosecrans  now  with  the  remainder  of  his  army  pressed  forward 
through  the  difficult  passes  of  the  Lookout  and  Missionary  mountains,  apparently 
directing  his  march  upon  La  Fayette  and  Rome.  At  this  time  General  Burnside 
was  in  possession  of  all  East-Tennessee  above  Chattanooga,  and  as  it  was  sup 
posed  at  the  War  Office  that  Bragg  had  sent  reinforcements  to  Lee  on  the  Rap- 
idan,  and  fearing  that  General  Rosecrans's  army  might  be  drawn  too  far  into  the 
mountains  of  Georgia,  where  it  could  not  be  supplied,  an  order  came  to  him  to 
hold  on  where  he  was,  after  taking  the  passes  west  of  Dalton. 

On  the  twelfth  of  September,  General  Rosecrans  telegraphed  that  some  in 
dications  were  presented  of  the  rebels  intending  to  turn  his  flanks  and  cut  off  his 
communications,  and  that  it  would  be  advisable  for  General  Burnside  to  move 
down  toward  Chattanooga,  and  General  Grant  to  cover  the  Tennessee  River,  so 
as  to  prevent  any  raid  on  Nashville.  Therefore  orders  were  sent  to  Generals 
Grant  and  Burnside  to  move  forward  and  connect  with  General  Rosecrans,  and 
he  himself  received  a  telegram  to  that  effect,  with  directions  that  his  army  should 
move  to  prevent  Bragg  reentering  Middle  Tennessee,  Chattanooga  being  turned 
over  to  General  Burnside  on  his  arrival. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  September,  General  Rosecrans's  army  was  in  the  passes 
of  Pigeon  Mountain,  with  the  enemy  concentrating  his  forces  near  La  Fayette  to 
dispute  his  further  advance.  But  our  troops  were  so  scattered  that  they  extended 


.°»06  WILLIAM      S  T  A  R  K  E      R  0  S  E  C  R  A  N  S . 

some  forty  or  fifty  miles,  and  not  until  the  nineteenth  were  they  sufficiently  con 
centrated  to  be  in  a  position  for  preventing  the  enemy  getting  in  advance  toward 
Chattanooga.  On  the  nineteenth,  Bragg's  forces,  now  strengthened  by  troops 
from  Johnston  and  Longstreet's  corps,  were  slightly  ahead,  but  were  encountered 
at  Chickamauga,  where  a  general  action  soon  took  place. 

The  accounts  of  this  battle  are  somewhat  conflicting,  and  have  not  been 
wholly  free  from  reflections  which  the  brilliant  and  masterly  movements,  added 
to  the  personal  courage  of  the  hero  of  Stone  River,  on  other  occasions  displayed, 
seem  to  make  almost  unwarranted.  The  battle  of  Chickamauga,  though  giving 
fresh  proofs  of  the  heroism  of  our  soldiers,  and  the  high  bravery  of  our  generals 
and  officers,  was  a  defeat.  General  Rosecrans  retreated  into  Chattanooga,  but  the 
enemy  were  kept  in  check  from  advancing  by  the  determined  courage  of  General 
Thomas,  who,  with  Generals  Granger  and  Garfield,  made  a  fierce  stand  against 
the  foe,  and  in  a  swift  and  terrible  charge,  broke  the  enemy's  ranks,  thus  enabling 
us  to  hold  our  position,  and  get  the  army  within  the  line  of  defences  around  the 
city. 

After  General  Rosecrans's  retreat  to '  Chattanooga,  he  withdrew  his  forces 
from  the  passes  of  Lookout  Mountain,  and  these  were  immediately  occupied  by 
the  enemy,  who  also  crossed  the  Tennessee  higher  up,  and  thus  almost  completely 
cut  off  the  supplies  for  our  army.  But  on  the  nineteenth  of  October,  Major- 
General  Grant  having  assumed  command  of  the  three  departments  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  Cumberland,  and  Ohio,  now  formed  into  one  general  command,  General 
Rosecrans  was  relieved. 

The  reasons  given  for  this  step,  as  published,  need  not  be  entered  into  here, 
more  than  to  say  that  it  was  based  upon  alleged  military  mismanagement,  and  cer 
tain  matters  in  connection  with  his  relations  to  Mr.  Truesdale,  whom  he  had  made 
chief  of  the  army  police,  and  wrhose  transactions  in  various  speculations  were  con 
sidered  of  a  very  ambiguous  character.  But,  whatever  the  real  cause  of  General 
Rosecrans's  removal,  he  was  not  to  be  long  without  a  command,  for  in  January 
of  the  present  year  he  was  appointed  to  relieve  General  Schofield  in  the  depart 
ment  of  the  Missouri.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  January,  he  was  at  St.  Louis 
when  the  citizens  gave  a  complimentary  dinner  to  General  Grant  then  on  a  visit 
there,  and  in  reply  to  a  toast  in  honor  of  the  army  and  navy,  expressed  his  firm 
conviction  in  the  restoration  of  the  Union. 

On  assuming  his  command,  General  Rosecrans  turned  his  attention  to  quiet 
ing  the  State  of  Missouri  by  inducing  the  farmers  to  resume  the  cultivation  of 
the  soil,  and  in  a  general  order  he  prohibited  the  exportation  of  slave  labor  ex 
cept  for  military  purposes.  He  also  issued  an  order  requiring  all  church  assem 
blies,  synods,  conferences,  etc.,  to  subscribe  to  an  oath  of  allegiance,  in  conse 
quence  of  many  ministers  and  preachers  being  disloyal  in  their  sentiments. 


GEN  JOHN  G  FOST  E  I ,' 


308  JOHN      G.      FOSTER. 

Immediately  after  this,  lie  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  construction  of 
fortifications  at  Sandy  Hook,  but  was  soon  ordered  into  active  service  in  the  army 
of  the  Potomac.  In  August,  1861,  the  President  made  him  a  Brigadier-General, 
and  in  December  he  was  attached  to  General  Burnside's  expedition.  On  the 
eleventh  of  January,  1862,  this  expedition  left  Fortress  Monroe,  and  arrived  at 
Hatteras,  N.  C.,  on  the  seventeenth.  Three  weeks  afterward,  Eoanoke  Island  was 
captured  by  the  combined  military  and  naval  forces  of  the  United  States,  and 
here  General  Foster  greatly  distinguished  himself. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  March,  Newbern  was  attacked  by  the  forces  under  Gen 
eral  Burnside,  who  ordered  General  Foster  to  advance  up  the  main  road,  toward 
the  enemy's  left.  An  abandoned  breastwork  was  discovered  in  the  fortifications, 
and  this  was  at  once  taken  possession  of.  Other  advantages  were  promptly  seized, 
and  the  enemy's  batteries  taken  one  after  the  other,  the  last  and  most  formidable, 
where  the  rebels  had  concentrated  their  whole  strength,  by  a  gallant  baj^onet- 
charge.  The  rebels  then  fled  across  the  Trent  Eiver,  destroying  the  bridges  be 
hind  them,  and  succeeded  in  making  their  escape  in  the  direction  of  Goldsborongh. 
General  Foster  took  possession  of  the  town,  and  the  Union  victory  was  complete. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  April,  Fort  Macon,  after  a  heavy  bombardment,  was 
taken  ;  and  when,  in  the  latter  part  of  July,  General  Burnside  was  ordered  to  the 
support  of  General  McClellan,  General  Foster  was  left  in  command  of  the  Depart 
ment  of  North-Carolina,  with  the  rank  of  Major-General,  his  commission  dating 
from  the  eighteenth  of  July,  1862. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  October,  General  Foster  left  Newborn,  on  an  expedition 
through  the  eastern  counties  of  North-Carolina,  and  by  his  prompt  movements 
was  instrumental  in  saving  the  town  and  forces  at  Plymouth  from  destruction,  the 
enemy,  hearing  of  his  advance,  having  made  a  precipitate  retreat,  and  abandoning 
the  attack  they  had  contemplated. 

In  December,  1862,  General  Foster  marched  against  Kinston,  N.  C.  He 
left  Newbern  on  the  thirteenth,  and  encountered  the  rebels  at  Southwest  Creek. 
After  a  short  engagement,  he  compelled  them  to  retire,  and,  on  the  following 
day,  defeated  them  again  at  Kinston,  capturing  the  place.  On  the  sixteenth, 
he  moved  on  toward  Whitehall,  and,  after  a  three  hours'  fight,  the  rebels  fell  back 
upon  Goldsborough,  whither  our  forces  promptly  followed,  and  gave  them  another 
defeat.  Orders  were  then  given  to  burn  the  railroad  bridge  and  destroy  the  track 
at  that  place,  and  this  being  effectually  done,  the  expedition  returned  to  Newbern. 
Four  hundred  and  ninety-six  prisoners  and  nine  pieces  of  artillery  were  taken, 
with  a  loss  on  our  side  of  ninety  killed,  four  hundred  and  seventy-eight  wounded, 
and  nine  missing. 

On  March  fourteenth,  1863,  the  rebel  General  Pettigrew,  with  a  large  force 
of  infantry  and  artillery,  made  a  demonstration  on  Newbern,  but  he-  was  com- 


JOHN      G.      FOSTER.  309 

pelled  to  abandon  the  attempt.  The  following  month,  the  rebels,  under  General 
Hill,  laid  siege  to  Washington,  on  the  Tar  Eiver.  The  place  had  only  a  small 
garrison  and  was  but  slightly  fortified,  but  General  Foster  immediately  exerted  all 
his  energies  to  strengthen  the  works  so  as  to  repel  any  assaults  until  reenforce- 
ments  arrived  from  Newbern  to  raise  the  siege.  On  the  fourteenth,  General 
Foster  succeeded  in  escaping  from  Washington,  and  arrived  at  Newbern  next 
day.  He  immediately  prepared  an  expedition  to  march  for  the  relief  o^the  town, 
but  the  rebels  suddenly  raised  the  siege,  and  thus  rendered  it  unnecessary. 

In  the  latter  part  of  May,  he  sent  out  an  expedition  to  capture  some  rebel 
works  at  Gum  Swamp,  which  proved  successful ;  and,  in  July,  another  expedi 
tion  was  sent  against  Kocky  Mount,  on  the  Tar  Eiver,  which  destroyed  the  bridge 
at  that  place  and  a  large  amount  of  rebel  property. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  July,  Major-General  Foster  was  appointed  to  command 
the  Department  of  Virginia,  in  addition  to  that  of  North-Carolina,  his  headquar 
ters  being  at  Fortress  Monroe.  Immediately  afterward,  he  ordered  the  recruit 
ment  of  colored  troops  and  the  impressment  of  colored  laborers.  At  the  same 
time,  he  apportioned  Koanoke  Island  among  the  families  of  negro  soldiers. 

On  the  twenty -eighth,  he  was  relieved  by  General  Butler,  and  ordered  to 
report  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  army.  He  was  not,  however,  to  remain 
long  without  an  active  command.  His  services  were  needed  on  the  battle-field, 
and  his  own  desires  led  him  to  seek  duty  where  there  was  stirring  work  to  be 
done. 

Accordingly,  on  the  sixteenth  of  November,  1863,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  command  of  the  Department  of  East-Tennessee,  in  the  place  of  General 
Burnside,  who  had  requested  to  be  relieved.  He  arrived  at  Cincinnati  on  the 
twenty-second,  and  at  Cumberland  Gap  on  the  thirtieth,  where  he  was  joined 
by  the  forces  previously  sent  there  by  General  Burnside  to  defend  that  important 
position.  Three  days  later,  at  Walker's  Ford,  two  miles  from  the  Gap,  a  fight 
occurred  with  Longstreet's  cavalry,  and  General  Foster's  troops,  in  attempting 
to  cross  the  Clinch  Eiver,  \vere  repulsed,  but,  on  the  next  day,  he  drove  the 
enemy  back,  and  went  in  pursuit.  On  the  seventh  of  December,  he  reported, 
from  Tazewell,  that  the  rebels  were  in  full  retreat  up  the  valley  toward  Virginia. 

A  few  days  later,  on  the  departure  of  General  Burnside  from  Knoxville,  he 
assumed  the  entire  command  of  the  forces  in  East-Tennessee,  and  neglected  no 
opportunity  of  personally  visiting  and  inspecting  the  movements  at  the  front  of 
his  army. 

On  the  twenty-eighth  of  January,  1864,  General  Foster  telegraphed  that  his 
cavalry,  under  General  Sturges,  had  met  the  rebels  at  Fair  Gardens,  and  after  a 
fight  lasting  from  daylight  until  four  P.M.,  had  driven  them  back,  taking  a  hun 
dred  prisoners  and  two  of  their  rifled  guns. 


310  JOHN      G.      POSTER. 

Meanwhile  the  health  of  General  Foster  declined.  The  weather  was  exceed 
ingly  severe,  and  this  caused  his  old  wound  to  become  very  painful.  It  was  still 
further  aggravated  by  an  accident  that  occurred  soon  after  his  arrival  at  Knox- 
ville.  One  day  while  riding,  his  horse  stumbled  and  threw  him,  thus  rendering 
him  almost  incapable  of  fulfilling  the  active  duties  of  his  post.  Still  he  perse 
vered,  but  finally  was  compelled  to  yield,  and  on  the  twenty-first  of  January,  an 
order  from  the  War  Office  appointed  General  Schofield  to  relieve  him.  On  the 
ninth  of  February,  his  successor  arrived,  and  General  Foster  immediately  depart 
ed  for  Baltimore,  there  to  recruit  his  health  by  a  cessation  from  all  official  duties. 
His  active  mind,  however,  would  not  allow  him  to  be  idle  longer  than  was  com 
pulsory,  and  directly  he  was  sufficiently  strengthened,  he  applied  for  service, 
and  in  May  was  appointed  to  command  the  department  of  the  South.  He 
arrived  at  Hilton  Head  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  May,  and  relieved  General  Hatch. 

One  of  General  Foster's  first  acts  after  arrival  was  to  order  the  raising  of  a 
regiment  of  militia  in  Florida,  and  to  direct  that  all  persons  having  permits  to 
trade  in  his  department,  renew  them  at  headquarters  immediately.  This  order 
had  reference  to  the  host  of  irregular  traders  that  so  frequently  hang  about 
camps,  and  help  to  defraud  the  soldier. 

On  the  first  of  July,  General  Foster  despatched  an  expedition  on  an  exten 
sive  scale  to  carry  on  movements  against  the  enemy.  It  consisted  of  commands 
under  Generals  Hatch,  Schemmelfennig,  Saxton,  and  Birney,  the  whole  being 
under  General  Foster.  The  troops  were  embarked  in  about  twenty  transports, 
and  on  arriving  at  Seabrook  Island  a  portion  were  sent  on  shore.  At  that  place 
no  rebels  were  discovered,  but  on  visiting  John's  Island,  they  appeared  in  force. 
More  of  our  troops  were  landed,  and  the  island  was  then  occupied  by  us.  Gen 
eral  Schemmelfennig  at  the  same  time  moved  on  James  Island,  where  there 
was  some  severe  fighting,  but  the  result  was  in  our  favor.  A  fort  was  captured, 
and  two  guns,  the  rebels  being  driven  into  the  woods.  In  this  attack,  two  col 
ored  regiments  of  infantry  were  in  the  advance.  On  the  second  of  July,  Fort 
Johnson  was  unsuccessfully  attacked  by  our  troops.  Finally,  our  forces  were 
withdrawn,  the  principal  object  of  the  expedition — in  enticing  the  enemy  away 
from  other  places — having  been  accomplished. 


" 


JOHN"   CHAELES  FREMONT. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Savannah,  in  Georgia,  January  21st, 
1813.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Lyons,  and  left  France  for  St.  Domingo 
in  1798 ;  but  the  ship  in  which  he  sailed,  captured  by  an  English  cruiser,  was 
taken  into  the  British  West  Indies,  whence  the  captive  made  his  way  to  Norfolk, 
in  Virginia.  There  he  taught  his  native  language  for  a  livelihood,  and  eventu 
ally  married  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Thomas  Whiting,  of  Gloucester  county,  a 
gentleman  related  by  marriage  to  the  family  of  Washington. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen,  young  Fremont  entered  Charleston  (S.  C.)  College.  For 
some  time  he  made  rapid  progress  in  his  studies ;  but  he  fell  in  love,  became  inat 
tentive  to  his  collegiate  duties,  was  frequently  absent  from  his  class,  and  for  that 
cause  was  finally  expelled.  From  his  seventeenth  to  his  twentieth  year  he  was 
employed  as  an  instructor  in  mathematics  in  various  schools  in  Charleston,  and 
as  a  practical  surveyor.  In  1833,  he  was  appointed  a  teacher  of  mathematics  on 
board  the  United  States  sloop-of-war  Natchez,  and  made  a  cruise  of  two  years 
and  a  half  in  that  vessel.  On  his  return,  he  declined  the  appointment  of  professor 
of  mathematics  in  the  navy,  was  employed  as  an  engineer  on  the  railway  line 
between  Augusta  and  Charleston,  and  subsequently,  and  until  the  fall  of  1837,  as 
an  assistant  engineer  upon  the  preliminary  survey  for  a  railway  between  Charles 
ton  and  Cincinnati.  Fremont's  part  of  the  line  lay  in  the  mountain-passes  be 
tween  South  Carolina  and  Tennessee.  This  work  was  suspended  in  the  autumn, 
and  the  winter  of  1837  was  spent  in  making,  with  Captain  Williams,  of  the 
United  States  army,  a  military  rcconnoissance  of  the  mountains  of  Georgia, 
North  Carolina,  and  Tennessee — a  work  performed  in  anticipation  of  hostilities 
with  the  Cherokee  Indians.  In  the  spring  of  1838,  he  accompanied  M.  Nicollet, 
a  man  of  science,  employed  by  the  United  States  government,  to  the  upper  Mis 
sissippi,  and  served  as  his  principal  assistant  in  the  exploration  of  that  year,  and 
also  in  that  of  the  next  year,  of  the  country  between  the  Missouri  and  the  British 
line ;  and  afterward  assisted  in  the  preparation  of  the  maps  and  report  of  the  ex 
ploration.  While  upon  this  expedition,  he  was  appointed,  February  7th,  1838, 
a  second-lieutenant  in  the  corps  of  topographical  engineers. 

Before  Nicollet's  maps  and  report  were  completed,  Fremont  was  ordered  to 
explore  the  River  Des  Moines.  After  the  execution  of  this  service,  he  returned 


312  JOHN  CHARLES  FREMONT. 

to  Washington,  and  in  October,  1841,  married  Jessie,  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
II.  Benton,  then  United  States  Senator  from  Missouri. 

While  employed  under  Nicollet,  Fremont  had  conceived  the  design  of  ex 
ploring  the  Far  West,  to  facilitate  its  settlement,  and  open  communication  with 
the  Pacific.  As  the  first  step  toward  this  great  labor,  he  applied  for  and  obtained, 
in  1842,  an  order  to  explore  the  Missouri  frontier  as  far  as  the  Wind  River  Peak 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  lie  left  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  River,  June  10th, 
proceeded  up  the  Platte  River  and  its  tributaries,  through  bands  of  hostile  In 
dians,  to  the  South  Pass,  which  was  carefully  examined.  Thence  he  proceeded 
to  the  Wind  River  Mountains,  the  loftiest  peak  of  which  he  ascended,  and  on  his 
return  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  October  10th.  His  report  was  laid  be 
fore  Congress  in  the  winter  of  1842-'3.  Humboldt  praised  it,  and  the  London 
"  Athenaium"  pronounced  it  one  of  the  most  perfect  productions  of  its  kind. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1843,  Fremont  set  out  upon  a  second  expedition, 
from  which  he  did  not  return  until  August,  1844.  His  object  in  this  expedition 
was  to  complete  the  survey  of  the  line  of  communication  between  the  state  of 
Missouri  and  the  tide-water  region  of  the  Columbia,  which  had  never  been  exam 
ined  or  mapped  by  any  geographer;  and  to  explore  the  vast  region  to  the  south 
of  the  Columbia — the  whole  western  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains — a  territory 
almost  unknown.  He  set  out  from  Kansas  City  May  29th,  and  came  in  sight  of 
Salt  Lake  September  6th.  Eight  months  later,  he  reached  Utah  Lake,  the  south 
ern  limb  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  having  completed  a  circuit  of  twelve  degrees' 
diameter  north  and  south,  and  ten  degrees  east  and  west.  In  the  maps  and  report 
of  this  expedition,  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  the  Utah  Lake,  the  Little  Salt  Lake,  the 
Klamath  Lake,  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  valleys  of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joa- 
quin,  the  Great  Basin,  the  Three  Parks — nearly  all  then  unknown  and  desert 
regions,  now  the  homes  of  multitudes  of  people — were  revealed  to  the  world. 
Nothing  in  the  annals  of  human  adventure  can  surpass  the  fortitude  with  which 
Fremont  and  his  comrades  met  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  this  vast  exploration. 
For  this  service  he  was  breveted  first-lieutenant  and  captain  in  January,  1845. 

Captain  Fremont  set  out  on  his  third  expedition  in  the  spring  of  1845.  He 
crossed  the  Great  Basin  from  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  and 
reached  California  in  December.  From  the  authorities  of  that  province  he  ob 
tained  permission  to  go  to  the  valley  of  the  San  Joaquin,  where  he  desired  to 
procure  supplies,  and  to  recruit  his  force.  At  that  time  the  relations  between 
the  United  States  and  Mexico  were  critical ;  and,  though  the  leave  was  granted 
for  him  to  continue  his  exploration,  it  was  almost  immediately  revoked,  and  he 
was  peremptorily  ordered  to  quit  the  country.  In  the  condition  of  his  men,  this 
was  impossible ;  and  General  Castro,  the  governor,  mustered  the  forces  of  the 
province  against  him.  Therefore,  to  be  in  a  better  condition  to  repel  any  attack, 


JOHN  CUARLES  FREMONT.  313 

Fremont  took  up  a  position  on  the  Hawk's  Peak,  about  thirty  miles  from  Mon 
terey,  intrenched  it,  and  with  his  command  of  sixty-two  men  awaited  the  Mexi 
cans.  Here  he  remained  from  the  7th  till  the  10th  of  March.  General  Castro 
did^not  approach,  and  Fremont  abandoned  his  position,  and  commenced  his 
marc]},  for  Oregon.  Several  of  his  men,  who  desired  to  remain  in  the  country, 
were  discharged  from  service  on  the  march.  About  the  middle  of  May,  1846, 
when  he  had  reached  the  northern  shore  of  the  great  Tlamath  Lake,  and  was 
within  the  limits  of  Oregon  territory,  he  found  his  further  progress  in  that  direc 
tion  obstructed  by  impassable  snowy  mountains,  and  by  hostile  Indians,  who  had 
been  excited  against  him  by  General  Castro ;  and  Castro,  he  learned,  was  still 
advancing  against  him ;  and  that  the  American  settlers  in  the  valley  of  the  Sac 
ramento  were  comprehended  in  the  scheme  of  destruction  meditated  against  his 
own  party.  At  the  same  time,  a  messenger  reached  him  with  dispatches  from 
Washington,  in  which  he  was  directed  to  watch  over  the  interests  of  the  United 
States  in  California,  as  there  was  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  province  would 
be  transferred  to  Great  Britain.  "  Under  these  circumstances,"  says  Secretary 
Marcy,  "  he  determined  to  turn  upon  his  Mexican  pursuers,  and  seek  safety  for 
his  own  party  and  the  American  settlers,  not  merely  in  the  defeat  of  Castro,  but 
in  the  total  overthrow  of  the  Mexican  authority  in  California,  and  the  establish 
ment  of  an  independent  government  in  that  extensive  department.  It  was  on 
the  6th  of  June  that  this  resolution  was  taken,  and  by  the  5th  of  July  it  was  car 
ried  into  effect".  .  .  .  and  "in  the  short  space  of  sixty  days  from  the  first  decisive 
movement,  this  conquest  was  achieved  by  a  small  body  of  men  to  an  extent  be 
yond  their  own  expectations,  for  the  Mexican  authorities  proclaimed  it  a  con 
quest,  not  merely  of  the  northern  part,  but  of  the  whole  province  of  the  Cali- 
fornias." 

California  was  thus  virtually  an  independent  province,  and  in  the  hands  of 
the  settler-conquerors,  who  immediately  elected  Fremont  governor.  Upon  the 
arrival  of  the  United  States  naval  forces,  under  Stockton,  Fremont  co-operated 
with  them,  and  his  election  as  governor  was  recognized  and  ratified  by  Stock 
ton.  Subsequently,  General  Kearney,  of  the  United  States  army,  arrived  in  Cal 
ifornia,  and  claimed  authority  over  the  territory,  and,  as  Fremont's  superior  in 
the  national  army,  required  his  obedience  to  orders.  His  orders  conflicted  with 
those  previously  received  from  Commodore  Stockton,  and  Fremont  refused  to 
obey  them.  This  brought  upon  him  the  enmity  of  Kearney.  Stockton  received 
orders  in  the  spring  to  turn  the  command  over  to  Kearney,  and  that  ended  the 
dispute.  Fremont,  tried  by  court-martial  for  his  share  of  the  trouble,  wras  found 
guilty  of  "mutiny,"  "disobedience  of  lawful  orders,"  and  "conduct  to  the  preju 
dice  of  good  order  and  military  discipline,"  and  was  sentenced  to  be  dismissed 

from  the  service.     The  President  disapproved  the  decision  of  the  court  upon  the 

2t  1 


314  JOHN  CHARLES  FREMONT. 

charge  of  mutiny,  and  remitted  the  penalty ;  but  Fremont,  indisposed  to  accept 
"  mercy,"  resigned  his  commission,  and  started  upon  a  winter  expedition  across 
the  mountains,  to  remove  the  popular  impression  that  the  snow  rendered  them 
impassable.  His  intention  was,  to  go  from  the  Eio  Grande  to  the  Colorado, 
through  the  Cochatopee  Pass ;  but,  misled  by  his  guide,  he  encountered  a  violent 
snow-storm  while  twelve  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  His  expedi 
tion  proved  disastrous,  but  he  finally  demonstrated  the  existence  of  the  pass,  and 
that  the  route  was  practicable. 

Upon  his  arrival  in  California,  Fremont  made  his  home  on  the  Mariposas,  a 
tract  of  land,  about  two  hundred  miles  south-west  from  San  Francisco,  which  he 
had  purchased  in  1847  for  three  thousand  dollars.  But  he  was  not  allowed  to  rest. 
Identified  with  all  the  great  interests  of  California,  and  especially  with  the  endeav 
or  to  exclude  slavery  from  its  constitution,  he  was  chosen  in  December,  1849,  to 
represent  that  state  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  and  was  its  first  Senator. 
His  senatorial  career  was  brief.  He  had  drawn  the  short  term,  and  the  protracted 
struggle  upon  the  admission  of  his  state  left  him  but  two  weeks  of  his  first  ses 
sion.  In  that  time  he  offered  bills  to  donate  lands  to  settlers,  to  settle  land-titles, 
to  grant  lands  to  the  state  for  the  purposes  of  education,  to  open  a  road  across 
the  continent,  and  for  various  other  measures  requisite  in  a  new  state.  An  attack 
of  the  Panama  fever  kept  him  from  his  seat  throughout  the  next  session. 

By  act  of  Congress,  every  claimant  of  title  to  land  in  California  was  required, 
at  the  discretion  of  the  United  States  attorney -general,  to  sue  for  his  title  in  per 
son  before  three  separate  tribunals ;  and  the  attorney-general  exercised  his  full 
authority  in  Fremont's  case,  though  his  title  to  the  Mariposas  was  beyond  doubt. 
One  of  the  tribunals  was  in  Washington,  and  Fremont  was  compelled  to  make 
the  journey  thither  from  California.  He  did  so,  and  obtained  his  title.  Investi 
gation  had  demonstrated  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  Mariposas  tract ;  and,  upon 
the  settlement  of  the  title,  Fremont  was  offered  one  million  dollars  for  it  by  a 
London  company  of  capitalists,  and  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  depos 
ited  with  Colonel  Benton  as  a  first  payment.  But  Fremont  refused  to  sell,  and 
in  1852  went  to  Europe  to  negotiate  for  means  to  work  the  mines. 

He  returned  in  June,  1853,  and  in  August  set  out  to  complete  at  his  own 
expense  the  survey  (abandoned  in  1849)  of  the  direct  line  for  the  Pacific  road 
to  San  Francisco.  Though  this  was  also  a  winter  expedition,  and  though  the 
weather  was  extremely  inclement,  he  found  safe  passes  through  a  fine  country 
all  the  way  to  San  Francisco. 

Though  previously  Fremont  had  not  taken  any  active  share  in  general  poli 
tics,  yet  his  known  sympathy  with  the  principles  of  the  Eepublican  party,  and 
his  career  as  a  man  associated  with  the  great  development  of  the  Far  West, 
brought  him  prominently  before  the  Eepublican  national  convention  which  met 


JOHN     CHARLES     FREMONT.  315 

at  Philadelphia,  June  17th,  1856,  and  that  body  unanimously  nominated  him  as 
the  candidate  of  the  Republican  party  for  the  presidency.  lie  was  defeated  in 
November  by  the  election  of  James  Buchanan,  who  received  one  hundred  and 
seventy-four  electoral  votes  from  nineteen  states ;  Fremont  received  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  from  eleven  states,  and  his  popular  vote  was  one  million,  three  hun 
dred  and  forty-one  thousand,  five  hundred  and  fourteen.  In  1858,  Mr.  Fremont 
returned  to  California,  made  that  state  his  residence,  and  there  gave  his  whole 
attention  to  the  management  of  his  extensive  Mariposas  estate. 

When  the 'Southern  disturbance  became  an  open  and  aggressive  war,  Colo 
nel  Fremont  was  in  Paris ;  but  he  determined  immediately  to  return  home,  and 
reached  Boston  in  the  steamship  Europa,  June  27th,  1861.  His  arrival  had  been 
anticipated  by  his  appointment  as  a  major-general  in  the  United  States  army ; 
and  on  July  6th,  upon  the  creation  of  the  "Western  department,  he  was  ordered 
to  the  command  in  it.  This  department  comprised  the  state  of  Illinois,  and  the 
states  and  territories  west  of  the  Mississippi  and  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
including  New  Mexico,  and  head-quarters  were  fixed  at  St.  Louis. 

General  Fremont  reached  his  department  and  assumed  the  command,  July 
25th.  Battles  had  then  been  fought  at  Bboneville  and  Carthage,  and  nearly  the 
whole  force  under  Lyon  was  in  and  around  Springfield,  in  daily  expectation  of 
attack  from  the  large  'army  known  to  be  under  M'Culloch  and  Price.  More 
over,  the  federal  army  then  iir-  existence  had  been  originally  organized  for  three 
months'  service':  its  time  was  now  nearly  expired  ;  and  in  view  of  this,  the  rebel 
forces  began  to  threaten  along  the  whole  line  of  operations  in  the  department. 
Fremont  had  thus  to  hold  a  department  against  an  active  enemy,  and  had  first  to 
create  an  army.  His  difficulties  were  of  immense  magnitude;  but  he  does  not 
appear  to  have  talked  very  much  about  them,  nor  to  have  taken  the  world  at 
large  into  his  confidence,  and  that  caused  more  trouble  still. 

General  Pillow,  about  the  first  of  August,  entered  south-eastern  Missouri  at 
the  head  of  a  large  rebel  force ;  and,  to  meet  this,  General  Fremont  immediately 
organized  an  expedition  of  about  eight  regiments,  which  left  St.  Louis  August  2d, 
and  moved  down  the  Mississippi  to  Cairo.  Pillow  was  either  alarmed  by  the 
force  thus  prepared  to  meet  him,  or  his  movement  had  been  merely  intended  as 
a  feint  to  cover  the  advance  against  Lyon  in  the  south-western  part  of  the  state, 
for  he  withdrew  without  making  any  demonstration.  Apparently,  Fremont  was 
beaten  in  this  whole  affair :  for,  by  the  actual  movement  made,  he  lost  Lyon  and 
Springfield;  while,  if  he  had  moved  to  the  assistance  of  Lyon,  Pillow  would 
doubtless  have  pressed  his  demonstration  against  Bird's  Point  and  Cairo,  and 
those  places  would  probably  have  fallen  into  his  hands. 

Fremont's  appointment  as  major-general  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  on  the 
3d  of  August.  On  the  13th,  he  declared  martial  law  in  the  "  city  and  county 


316  JOHN   CHARLES  FREMONT. 

of  St.  Louis ;"  and  at  about  the  same  time  he  began  the  construction  of  the  very- 
extensive  fortifications  contemplated  for  the  defence  of  that  city.  By  his  proc 
lamation  of  August  31st,  he  extended  the  declaration  of  martial  law  throughout 
Missouri,  and  "  assumed  the  administrative  powers  of  the  state."  This  was  made 
necessary  by  "the  helplessness  of  the  civil  authority."  In  the  same  document, 
it  is  declared  that  "the  property,  real  and  personal,  of  all  persons  in  the  state  of 
Missouri,  who  shall  take  up  arms  against  the  United  States,  or  who  shall  be 
directly  proven  to  have  taken  active  part  with  their  enemies  in  the  field,  is  de 
clared  to  be  confiscated  to  the  public  use,  and  their  slaves,  if  any  they  have,  are 
hereby  declared  free  men."  Against  the  extension  of  martial  law  over  the  state, 
Hamilton  R.  Gamble,  who  had  been  elected  governor  upon  the  delinquency  of 
Governor  Jackson,  protested  personally  to  the  President ;  but  the  President  was 
disposed  to  leave  the  matter  with  General  Fremont,  and  to  "  take  no  step  back 
ward  ;"  yet  by  a  public  order  of  September  llth,  the  President  qualified  the  slave 
clause  of  General  Fremont's  proclamation,  so  that  it  should  "  not  transcend  the 
provisions  on  the  same  subject  contained  in  the  act  of  Congress  entitled  'an  act 
to  confiscate  property  used  for  insurrectionary  purposes.' "  Very  nearly  at  the 
same  time  was  first  heard  the  rumor  that  General  Fremont's  conduct  of  affairs 
in  Missouri  had  not  given  satisfaction  in  Washington,  and  that  he  was  to  be. 
superseded. 

After  the  battle  at  Wilson's  Creek,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
national  forces  from  the  south- western  "part  of  the  state,  it  was  completely  over 
run  by  the  united  forces  of  M'Culloch,  Rains,  and  Price,  who  extended  their 
operations  as  far  north  as  the  Missouri  River,  and  approached  St.  Louis  from  the 
direction  of  Springfield  as  near  as  Warsaw,  on  the  Osage.  Extensive  prepara 
tions  to  rid  the  state  of  this  invasion  were  made  by  General  Fremont  at  St.  Louis, 
and  subsequently  at  Jefferson  City ;  and  for  this  purpose  he  finally  collected  and 
organized,  though  somewhat  imperfectly,  a  force  of  thirty  thousand  men,  which 
was  disposed  in  five  divisions,  commanded  respectively  by  Generals  Hunter, 
Sigel,  Asboth,  M'Kinstry,  and  Pope.  This  force  comprised  twenty-five  infantry 
regiments.  About  five  thousand  cavalry  made  up  the  number,  and  it  was  fur 
nished  with  thirty-six  pieces  of  artillery.  On  the  14th  of  October,  the  whole 
force  took  up  its  march — Asboth's  and  Hunter's  commands  from  the  camp  at 
Tipton,  M'Kinstry's  from  Syracuse,  Pope's  from  Boonevillc,  and  Sigcl's  from 
Sedalia — for  Warsaw,  on  the  Osage. 

Warsaw  was  reached  on  the  17th.  There  General  Fremont  halted  to  build 
a  bridge  over  the  Osage,  and  passed  that  stream  on  the  22d.  General  Price,  with 
a  force  fully  equal  to  the  national  army,  retreated  before  Fremont  as  he  ad 
vanced  ;  but  the  latter  pressed  on,  in  the  belief  that  he  could  overtake  Price  near 
the  Arkansas  line,  though  his  transportation  was  quite  unequal  to  any  very  rapid 

f 


JOHN  CHARLES  FREMONT.  317 

movement.  Price  was  reported  to  have  made  a  stand  at  Carthage,  and  Fremont 
occupied  Springfield,  October  27th.  Price  and  M'Culloch  were  then  certainly 
not  far  to  the  south,  with  a  large  force,  and  a  battle  became  hourly  more  immi 
nent.  General  Fremont  devoted  himself  with  intense  earnestness  to  the  work 
of  preparation  for  the  fight.  Meantime,  some  excitement  prevailed,  as  the  possi 
bility  of  his  removal  was  talked  over  in  the  army,  and  rumors  were  current  that 
it  had  already  takpn  place.  Fremont  could  not  but  be  aware  of  these  rumors  ; 
yet  he  worked  on  until  Saturday,  November  2d,  when  he  received  from  a  gov 
ernment  messenger  the  President's  unconditional  order  for  him  to  relinquish  the 
command  to  General  Hunter.  He  did  so,  and  left  camp  at  Springfield  for  St. 
Louis  on  the  3d,  having  previously  taken  leave  of  the  army  in  the  following 
farewell  order : 

"  SOLDIERS  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  ARMY  :  Agreeable  to  orders  received  this 
day,  I  take  leave  of  you.  Although  our  army  has  been  of  sudden  growth,  we 
have  grown  up  together,  and  I  have  become  familiar  with  the  brave  and  gen 
erous  spirits  which  you  bring  to  the  defence  of  your  country,  and  which  makes 
me  anticipate  for  you  a  brilliant  career.  Continue  as  you  have  begun,  and  give 
to  my  successor  the  same  cordial  and  enthusiastic  support  with  which  you  have 
encouraged  me.  Emulate  the  splendid  example  which  you  have  already  before 
you,  and  let  me  remain,  as  I  am,  proud  of  the  noble  army  which  I  have  thus  far 
labored  to  bring  together. 

"  Soldiers,  I  regret  to  leave  you.  Most  sincerely  I  thank  you  for  the  regard 
and  confidence  you  have  invariably  shown  me.  I  deeply  regret  that  I  shall  not 
have  the  honor  to  lead  you  to  the  victory  which  you  are  just  about  to  win ;  but 
I  shall  claim  the  right  to  share  with  you  in  the  joy  of  every  triumph,  and  trust 
always  to  be  personally  remembered  by  my  companions  in  arms." 

On  the  llth  of  March,  1862,  President  Lincoln,  having  previously  ordered 
a  general  movement  of  the  land  and  naval  forces  of  the  United  States,  issued  an 
order  relieving  General  McClcllan  from  the  "  other  military  departments"  except 
the  department  of  the  Potomac,  and  creating  the  new  departments  of  the  "  Mis 
sissippi"  and  the  "  Mountain  department,"  assigning  the  command  of  the  latter 
to  General  Fremont.  On  the  first  of  April,  active  operations  in  his  department 
commenced  under  General  Milroy,  who  compelled  the  enemy  to  retreat  before  him 
as  far  as  Fort  Shenandoah  toward  Staunton  from  the  west.  General  Fremont  left 
Wheeling  early  in  May,  and  after  passing  through  New-Creek  he  proceeded  to 
Franklin,  where  he  arrived  on  the  thirteenth,  his  army  having  come  by  forced 
marches  to  relieve  Generals  Schenck  and  Milroy  who  had  been  attacked  and  re- 


318  JOHN      CHARLES      FREMONT. 

pulsed  by  the  enemy.  On  the  appearance  of  General  Fremont,  however,  the  rebels 
all  removed  from  the  neighborhood,  and  quiet  was  maintained  for  ten  days,  during 
which  time  his  forces  were  reorganized  and  refreshed.  At  the  end  of  that  period, 
an  order  came  to  General  Fremont  directing  him  to  fall  back  with  his  entire  com 
mand  to  the  support  of  General  Banks,  and  prescribing  the  route  by  which  he 
should  go.  This  route  General  Fremont  deemed  to  be  an  injudicious  one,  and  ac 
cordingly  took  another  of  his  own  selection.  He  left  Franklin  at  six  o'clock  on' 
Sunday  morning,  May  twenty-fifth,  leaving  behind  all  the  wounded  and  sick,  so  as 
not  to  impede  his  progress.  The  march  back  over  the  Shenandoah  Mountains  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Strasburgh  was  arduous  and  trying  in  the  extreme.  The 
tired  troops  dropped  by  the  roadside,  and  slept  under  the  partial  shelter  of  open 
forests.  The  next  day  the  rear  of  the  enemy  under  Jackson  was  attacked  and 
driven  back  beyond  Strasburgh,  General  Fremont  promptly  following,  and  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  sixth  of  June,  he  reached  Harrisonburgh.  Here  the  army 
rested  until  June  eighth,  when  General  Fremont  finding  the  enemy  posted  at 
Cross-Keys,  moved  on  and  attacked  him,  compelling  his  retreat  to  Port  Republic, 
where  he  was  again  encountered,  but  soon  disappeared.  This  closing  the  pursuit 
of  Jackson,  General  Fremont's  forces  now  returned,  by  way  of  Harrisonburgh,  up 
the  valley  and  reached  Mount  Jackson  June  twelfth,  where  they  encamped. 

On  the  twenty -sixth  of  June,  the  troops  under  General  Fremont  were  con 
solidated  with  those  of  Generals  Banks  and  McDowell,  and  placed  under  command 
of  Major-General  Pope.  This  step  was  considered  by  General  Fremont  as  "plac 
ing  him  in  an  inferior  position  to  that  he  had  previously  held,  and  largely  reducing 
his  rank  and  consideration  in  the  service."  Accordingly,  on  the  twenty-seventh 
of  June,  having  asked  to  be  relieved  from  his  command,  his  request  was  granted. 
Late  in  May,  1864,  having  received  the  nomination  of  the  radical  democratic 
party  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States,  he  resigned  his  commission  as 
major-general  in  the  a-rmy  of  the  United  States. 


MA.  I  Ci:\  JOHN    SF.DGWICK 


JOHN     SEDGWIOK. 

JOHN  SEDGWICK  was  born  at  Cornwall,  Litchfield  County,  Connecticut,  in 
1817.  lie  belonged  to  a  family  well  known  in  Connecticut,  Massachusetts, 
and  New- York,  among  whose  members  were  Miss  Catherine  Sedgwick,  the  author 
ess,  and  Theodore  Sedgwick,  the  distinguished  jurist.  John  Sedgwick,  the  grand 
father  of  the  late  General,  was  an  officer  of  good  reputation  during  the  revolu 
tionary  war. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  the  Military  Academy  at  West-Point  in 
1833,  and  graduated  twenty-fourth  in  a  class  of  fifty  in  1837.  Among  his  class 
mates  were  Generals  Benham,  (who  stood  first,)  Arnold,  Vogdes,  Thomas,  Wil 
liams,  French,  and  Hooker,  and  the  rebel  Generals  Bragg,  Mackall,  Early,  and 
Pemberton — all  of  whom,  except  Hooker,  were  graduated  above  him. 

He  was  immediately  appointed  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  Second  artillery, 
and  in  April,  1839,  was  promoted  to  be  First  Lieutenant  in  the  same  regiment. 
For  the  next  seven  or  eight  years  he  was  employed  in  no  duty  which  offered  him 
opportunity  for  special  distinction,  but  he  was  not  long  in  acquiring  a  reputation 
as  a  zealous  and  painstaking  officer,  whose  whole  mind  was  devoted  to  his  profes 
sion,  and  whose  chief  ambition  seemed  to  be  to  make  himself  master  of  all  that 
related  to  the  service  in  its  minutest  details. 

The  Mexican  war  opened  a  field  for  the  display  of  the  knowledge  he  had 
carefully  accumulated  during  the  previous  years  of  peace.  At  the  battles  of  Con- 
treras  and  Churubusco  he  commanded  his  company,  and  won  the  brevet  rank  of 
Captain  for  his  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct.  In  the  engagement  of  El  Molino 
del  Key  his  behavior  was  again  the  subject  of  special  commendation.  For  his 
distinguished  services  at  Chapultepec  he  was  brevetted  Major,  and  the  official  re 
ports  of  the  attack  upon  the  San  Cosmo  gate  of  the  City  of  Mexico  make  particu 
lar  mention  of  his  gallant  behavior.  In  this  last-named  action  the  command  of 
his  company  again  devolved  upon  him.  He  received  the  full  rank  of  Captain  in 
January,  1849,  and  in  March,  1855,  was  transferred  to  the  First  cavalry,  with  the 
commission  of  Major. 

At  the  time  of  the  Kansas  troubles  his  regiment,  of  which  the  late  Major- 
General  Sumner  was  then  Colonel,  was  stationed  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  and  hav 
ing  been  placed  by  the  Secretary  of  War  at  the  disposal  of  the  Governor  of 


320  JOHN      SEDGWICK. 

the  territory,  was  actively  engaged  in  many  of  the  disturbances.  "With  detach 
ments  of  dragoons,  Major  Sedgwick  was  frequently  sent  on  expeditions  against 
one  or  the  other  of  the  hostile  parties  then  in  arms  against  each  other,  and  in 
after-life  he  was  fond  of  telling,  not  without  a  spice  of  dry  humor,  how  impartially 
he  discharged  his  duty — dispersing  a  band  of  Missourians  one  day,  and  imprison 
ing  John  Brown  the  next.  In  one  of  the  encounters  between  the  troops  and  the 
settlers,  a  young  lad  belonging  to  the  Free  State  party  was  severely  wounded  and 
left  in  the  hands  of  the  dragoons.  Major  Sedgwick,  with  his  characteristic  ten 
derness,  took  the  lad  to  his  own  quarters,  and  nursed  him  until  his  wounds  were 
healed.  For  this  act  of  humanity  he  was  rebuked  by  Mr.  Jefferson  Davis,  then 
Secretary  of  War,  and  annoyed  by  a  long  and  unsatisfactoiy  correspondence  with 
the  officials  at  Washington.  Colonel  Simmer's  conduct  also  gave  umbrage  to  Mr. 
Davis,  and  led  to  his  being  relieved  from  his  command. 

In  1858  and  1859,  Major  Sedgwick  was  in  command  at  Fort  Eiley,  and  in 
1860  at  Fort  Wise,  where  he  was  still  stationed  at  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the 
rebellion  in  1861.  On  the  sixteenth  of  March  of  that  year,  he  was  appointed 
Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  Second  cavalry,  and  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  Colo 
nel  of  the  Fourth  cavalry.  His  commission  as  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers 
was  dated  August  thirty-first,  1861.  His  first  command  was  a  brigade  composed 
of  two  New- York  and  two  Maine  regiments,  in  Heintzclman's  division  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac,  but  before  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign  he  exchanged  this 
for  a  division  in  the  Second  (Sumner's)  army  corps.  For  a  short  time  he  had  been 
in  command  on  the  Upper  Potomac,  relieving  General  Stone.  After  the  evacua 
tion  of  Yorktown,  his  division  and  the  divisions  of  Franklin,  Fitz-John  Porter, 
and  Richardson  were  sent  by  water  to  West-Point,  on  the  Pamunkey,  and  a  por 
tion  of  his  troops  participated  in  Franklin's  gallant  repulse  of  the  enemy  at  that 
place  on  the  seventh  of  May.  At  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  May  thirty -first,  he 
probably  saved  the  day.  Heintzelman  and  Keyes  had  been  fighting  manfully  all 
the  afternoon  against  overpowering  numbers,  and  were  in  a  most  critical  position, 
when  Sedgwick,  after  a  severe  march  of  three  hours,  crossed  the  Chickahominy 
by  a  bridge  which  the  enemy  supposed  to  have  been  destroyed  by  a  flood,  and 
about  six  o'clock  reached  the  field  of  battle.  Three  desperate  assaults  by  the 
rebels  were  repulsed,  and  Sedgwick  then  in  turn  attacked,  drove  them  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet  within  the  cover  of  a  thick  wood,  and  kept  possession  of  the  field 
with  all  the  confederate  dead  and  wounded.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  June,  during 
the  retreat  from  the  Chickahominy  to  the  James,  he  repulsed  a  furious  attack  of 
the  enemy  at  Allen's  Farm,  and  in  the  battles  of  Savage's  Station  and  Glendale, 
and  other  engagements  of  the  seven  days'  fight,  he  distinguished  himself  in  the 
most  gallant  manner.  For  his  services  at  Fair  Oaks  he  received  the  brevet  rank 
of  Brigadier-General  in  the  regular  army,  dating  from  the  day  of  the  battle. 


JOHN      SEDGWICK.  321 

He  participated  in  the  closing  scenes  of  General  Pope's  Virginia  cam 
paign,  and  afterward  marched  with  his  command  under  McClellan  into  Mary 
land.  He  reached  the  battle-field  of  Antietam  after  the  action  had  commenced, 
and  was  ordered  to  the  right  of  the  line  to  support  an  attack  upon  Lee's  left. 
Forming  his  division  in  three  parallel  lines  by  brigades,  he  moved  the  front  under 
a  severe  fire  from  concealed  batteries,  and  drove  the  enemy  through  a  wood.  On 
a  hill,  however,  commanding  the  exit  from  the  wood  was  a  line  of  confederate 
breastworks  and  batteries,  and  while  his  front  was  assailed  by  a  tremendous  fire 
from  these,  a  strong  column  of  the  enemy,  having  pressed  back  the  Federal  bri 
gade  on  Sedgwick's  left,  appeared  on  the  left  of  his  rear.  Exposed  to  a  fire  in 
front  and  flank,  which  it  could  not  return,  Sedgwick's  third  line  gave  way  in  con 
fusion,  and  was  followed  by  the  second  and  first,  but  the  personal  exertions  of 
their  General  soon  retrieved  the  disorder.  Though  twice  -vvounded,  and  faint 
from  loss  of  blood,  he  retained  command  of  his  division  for  more  than  an  hour 
after  his  first  wound,  and  was  finally  carried  from  the  field. 

On  his  recovery,  in  December,  he  was  nominated  Major-General  of  volun 
teers,  to  date  from  July  fourth,  1862,  and  assigned  command  of  the  Ninth  corps. 
He  did  not  reach  the  army  in  time  to  take  part  in  Burnside's  attack  upon  Frede- 
ricksburgh.  During  the  absence  of  General  Sunnier  he  was  temporarily  in  com 
mand  of  the  right  grand  division  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  In  February,  1863, 
he  succeeded  General  "Baldy"  Smith  in  command  of  the  Sixth  corps,  and  on  the 
twenty-fifth  of  the  same  month  his  commission  as  Major-General  was  ante-dated 
so  as  to  give  him  rank  from  May  thirty-first,  1862,  the  day  of  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks. 

When  General  Hooker  made  his  attack  upon  Chancellorsville,  in  May,  1863, 
Sedgwick  was  placed  at  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  with  instructions  to  carry  the 
heights  of  Fredericksburgh  and  effect  a  junction  with  Hooker  in  the  rear  of  the 
town.  The  enemy  had  a  strong  position  on  the  crest  of  a  ridge  known  as  Marye's 
Heights.  Twice  the  Sixth  corps  had  assaulted  it,  and  it  had  failed.  When  the 
men  recoiled  under  their  second  repulse,  General  Sedgwick,  who  was  watching  the 
movement  from  a  commanding  position,  drew  his  hat  down  over  his  eyes,  and 
striding  up  to  his  Adjutant-General,  exclaimed,  in  a  low  voice  but  with  an  energy 
that  was  almost  fierce  :  "  By  heaven,  sir,  this  must  not  delay  us  !"  He  now  made 
the  most  careful  preparations  for  a  third  attack.  In  a  council  of  his  subordinate 
generals  he  had  asked  their  advice.  They  thought  the  position  could  not  be  car 
ried.  General  Sedgwick  heard  them  in  silence,  and  then  quietly  gave  minute 
directions  for  the  assault.  Three  columns  were  organized — all  picked  men.  One 
was  to  move  part  way  up  the  Heights,  form  in  line  of  battle,  and  lie  down  on  the 
left  of  the  Chancellorsville  road,  under  a  sudden  rise  of  ground,'  which  protected 
them  from  the  enemy's  fire.  The  others  were  to  move  directly  up  the  hill,  side 
by  side  in  columns  by  fours,  to  the  right  of  the  line  of  battle. 


322  JOHN      SEDGWICK. 

There  was  a  certain  point,  far  up  the  slope,  where  the  fire  from  all  the  rebel 
works  converged.  No  troops  had.  hitherto  been  able  to  pass.it.  The  columns 
pressed  steadily  on  until  they  reached  it,  cheering  and  rivalling  each  other  as  they 
marched  side  by  side ;  but  when  they  came  within  the  focus  of  this  terrible  fire 
the  leading  files  began  to  fritter  away,  so  that  although  the  rear  kept  moving  for 
ward  the  front  made  no  progress.  At  this  moment  the  line-of-battle  behind  them 
sprang  up  from  the  ground  with  a  shout,  and  rushed  upon  the  works.  The 
wavering  columns  plucked  up  fresh  spirit,  and  all  three  entered  the  breastworks 
together,  capturing  eight  guns  and  eight  hundred  prisoners.  The  whole  corps, 
according  to  Hooker's  instructions,  now  pressed  on  toward  Chancellorsville.  At 
Salem  Heights,  five  miles  on  his  way,  Sedgwick  found  the  enemy  in  heavy  force 
and  strongly  posted.  He  carried  the  heights  by  assault,  but  could  not  hold  them, 
and  meanwhile  a  strong  body  of  the  enemy  had  regained  possession  of  Marye's 
Heights  in  his  rear,  while  it  became  evident  that  the  main  part  of  Lee's  army  was 
interposed  between  him  and  Hooker,  and  was  preparing  to  fall  upon  him  in  over 
whelming  numbers.  Eesting  that  night  on  the  field  he  had  won,  he  sent  the  next 
morning  (Monday,  the  fourth)  for  reinforcements ;  but  Hooker  had  now  resolved 
to  retreat  across  the  Rappahannock,  and  replied  that  he  was  too  far  off  to  afford 
aid,  and  the  Sixth  corps  must  fall  back  to  the  river.  The  enemy  being  in  the 
rear,  this  movement  was  not  effected  without  difficulty  and  some  hard  fighting, 
but  by  Tuesday  morning,  Sedgwick  had  brought  his  whole  command  to  the 
north  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  passing  the  rebels  on  the  flank  during  the 
night 

When  the  army  of  the  Potomac  marched  to  meet  the  rebels  in  Pennsyl 
vania,  in  the  following  month,  the  Sixth  corps  held  the  extreme  right  of  the  line. 
Receiving  orders  to  hasten  to  the  battle-field  of  Gettysburg!!,  they  made  by  night 
a  forced  march  of  thirty  miles — one  of  the  most  rapid  in  the  history  of  the  war — 
and  reached  the  field  on  the  second  day  of  the  fight,  in  the  heat  of  the  struggle 
for  the  possession  of  the  gap  left  open  in  the  left  centre  by  the  misplacing  of 
Sickles's  corps.  The  Third  corps  had  given  way ;  the  Fifth  and  Second,  though 
fighting  manfully,  were  in  imminent  danger  of  being  overwhelmed,  when  Sedg- 
wick's  foot-sore  and  hungry  men,  almost  exhausted  by  their  thirty-six  hours' 
march,  appeared  in  sight.  As  if  fresh  from  camp,  they  rushed  forward  with  a 
shout,  and  drove  back  the  rebel  column  in  confusion.  Foiled  in  this  attack,  the 
confederates  made  a  sudden  assault  upon  the  right  wing.  Sedgwick  rapidly 
shifted  his  corps  to  meet  them.  The  battle  raged  until  late  at  night.  At  half- 
past  nine  the  rebels  made  a  tremendous  charge,  and  were  finally  repulsed.  The 
next  day,  Friday,  July  third,  the  engagement  was  hot  all  along  the  line,  and 
Sedgwick's  services  were  as  usual  of  the  most  important  character. 

During  the  advance  of  the  army  toward  the  Rapidan,  in  the  autumn  of  this 


JOHN      SEDG  WICK.  323 

year,  General  Sedgwick  was  charged  with,  the  duty  of  driving  the  enemy  across 
the  Eappahannock  and  capturing  their  works  at  Rappahannock  Station,  where 
the  railroad  crosses  that  stream.  The  confederates  held  one  or  two  formidable 
forts  on  the  south  bank  commanding  the  railroad.  General  Sedgwick,  with  his 
own  and  a  part  of  the  Fifth  corps,  crossed  on  pontoons  a  little  farther  up  the  river, 
and  by  a  gallant  night  attack,  November  seventh,  carried  the  works,  captured 
four  guns,  two  thousand  small  arms,  eight  battle-flags,  a  bridge  train,  and  one 
thousand  six  hundred  prisoners,  and  compelled  Lee  to  retreat  behind  the  Eapidan. 

Toward  the  end  of  the  same  month,  General  Meade  crossed  the  latter  river 
and  attacked  the  rebels  at  Mine  Run,  but  finding  it  impossible  to  carry  their  posi 
tion  with  the  troops  at  his  command,  he  withdrew"  to  his  former  quarters  on  the 
Rappahannock,  on  the  first  of  December.  In  this  abortive  campaign,  the  troops 
chiefly  engaged  were  those  of  Sedgwick  and  Sykes. 

By  virtue  of  seniority,  General  Sedgwick  commanded  the  army  of  the  Poto 
mac  during  the  absence  of  General  Meade,  and  the  permanent  command  of  it  was 
twice  offered  him  but  refused.  He  was  unwilling  to  accept  the  responsibility  of 
so  heavy  a  trust  without  the  assurance  that  he  would  be  at  perfect  liberty  to  fight 
when,  where,  and  how  he  thought  best.  He  was  in  command  at  the  time  the 
army  moved  forward  in  the  winter  of  1864  to  cover  General  Butler's  attempted 
raid  into  Richmond  by  way  of  the  peninsula. 

His  important  share  in  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness,  with  which  General 
Grant  began  his  advance  upon  Richmond  in  May,  1864,  need  not  be  particularly 
mentioned.  On  Friday,  the  sixth,  the  second  day  of  the  fight,  his  corps  was  sud 
denly  and  fiercely  assailed,  and  one  brigade,  which  had  but  recently  been  put 
under  his  command,  was  swept  awray  and  a  great  part  of  another  destroyed.  The 
whole  right  wing,  and  indeed  the  whole  army,  was  in  imminent  peril,  but  Sedg 
wick,  by  incessant  exertions  and  personal  exposure,  rallied  his  troops  and  finally 
repulsed  the  enemy.  In  this  day's  engagement  he  lost  nearly  six  thousand  men. 
On  Saturday  and  Sunday  the  fighting  was  frequent,  but  less  severe.  On  Monday, 
the  ninth,  there  was  comparative  quiet.  General  Sedgwick  rode  out  to  the  front 
of  his  lines  near  Spottsylvania  Court-House,  to  superintend  the  placing  of  his 
artillery.  A  few  rebel  sharp-shooters  had  their  eyes  on  the  party,  and  the  General 
was  amusing  himself  at  the  nervousness  which  his  gunners  sometimes  manifested, 
as  a  rifle-ball  whistled  near  them.  "  Pooh !  man,"  he  exclaimed ;  "  they  could  not 
hit  an  Elephant  at  this  distance."  A  moment  afterward,  a  bullet  struck  him  in 
the  face,  penetrating  just  below  the  eye ;  he  fell  into  the  arms  of  one  of  his  staff: 
a  pleasant  smile  prept  over  his  face ;  he  clasped  his  hands  over  his  breast,  and  died 
so  quietly  that  it  was  not  known  when  he  ceased  to  breathe. 

General  Sedgwick  was  perhaps  the  best  example  of  the-  practical  as  distin 
guished  from  the  theoretical  soldier  which  this  war  has  produced.  Though  by  no 


324  JOHN      SEDGWICK. 

means  an  illiterate  man — on  the  contrary,  extremely  well  informed  on  almost  all 
subjects — lie  knew  very  little  of  books,  seldom  read  any  thing,  and,  as  his  stand 
ing  at  "West-Point  indicates,  made  no  pretence  of  proficiency  in  the  abstruse 
branches  of  military  science.  Yet  in  the  field  he  was  invaluable.  No  command 
with  which  he  was  intrusted  ever  proved  too  high  for  him ;  and  no  officer  of  the 
present  United  States  army  enjoys  a  more  enviable  reputation  for  all  soldierly 
qualities  than  he  possessed  among  his  companions  in  arms.  Though  a  strict  dis 
ciplinarian,  he  was  universally  beloved  by  his  men,  who  would  confidently  follow 
"  Uncle  John,"  as  they  used  to  call  him,  into  any  danger,  and  almost  to  certain 
death. 

He  was  remarkably  quiet  and  unassuming  in  manner,  but  he  had  a  sturdy, 
independent  spirit  which  would  brook  no  injustice.  For  all  his  mild  exterior,  it 
was  well  known  that  he  was  not  a  man  to  be  trifled  with.  General  McClellan,  in 
his  oration  at  the  dedication  of  the  West-Point  Battle  Monument,  paid  a  feeling 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  "  true  John  Sedgwick,  gentle  and  kind  as  a  woman, 
displaying  the  highest  qualities  of  a  commander  and  soldier,  dying  as  a  soldier 
would  choose ! " 

The  General  was  never  married.  When  not  in  the  field,  which  was  seldom, 
he  lived  with  his  sister  at  Cornwall,  on  the  old  homestead  which  had  been  in  the 
possession  of  his  family  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  years. 


AMBEOSE   EYERETT   BURNSIDE. 

AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURNSEDE  was  born  at  Liberty,  Union 'county, 
Indiana,  on  the  23d  day  of  May,  1824,  and  was,  consequently,  in  the  full 
prime  of  his  early  manhood  when  the  "War  for  the  Union  commenced.  He  is 
of  the  old  blood  that  flowed  in  the  veins  of  heroes  at  Bannockburn  and  Flodden 
Field,  and  which,  in  many  a  hotly-contested  battle,  has  proved  the  Scotch  to  be 
among  the  best  soldiers  in  the  world. 

His  grand-parents  were  born  in  Scotland,  but,  removing  to  America  near 
the  close  of  the  last  century,  settled  in  South  Carolina.  Here  General  Burnside's 
father  was  born,  educated,  and  married.  Following  the  profession  of  law,  he 
acquired  an  eminent  position,  and  enjoyed  a  profitable  practice.  After  the  war 
of  1812,  the  great  fields  of  the  West  attracted  the  attention  of  the  citizens  of  the 
old  states.  Mr.  Burnside  early  felt  the  influence,  and  in  the  year  1821  he  re 
moved  with  his  family  to  Liberty.  "We  find  him  honorably  and  creditably  filling 
the  office  of  clerk,  and  afterward  of  judge  of  the  circuit  court,  in  his  new  home. 

The  son,  AMBROSE,  was  carefully  nurtured,  and  received  his  elementary 
education  in  the  best  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
military  academy  at  West  Point  in  his  eighteenth  year,  and  was  graduated  in 
1847,  in  the  artillery,  the  fifteenth  in  rank,  in  a  class  numbering  forty-seven 
members.  In  the  following  year  .he  received  a  full  second-lieutenancy,  and  was 
attached  to  the  third  regiment  of  artillery.  During  his  stay  at  West  Point,  the 
war  with  Mexico  commenced ;  and  immediately  upon  his  graduation,  he  proceed 
ed  to  the  scene  of  action.  On  his  arrival  at  Yera  Cruz,  Lieutenant  Burnside  was 
put  in  command  of  an  escort  to  a  baggage-train,  and  sent  into  the  interior.  Al 
though  the  route  was  in  the  nominal  possession  of  the  United  States  troops,  the 
Mexicans,  by  a  guerilla  warfare,  which  they  continually  carried  on,  had  suc 
ceeded  in  cutting  off  or  disabling  several  trains  that  had  previously  been  sent. 

The  duty  was  hazardous,  and  the  post  responsible ;  but  the  young  lieuten 
ant  carried  his  small  command  through  without  injury,  and  manifested  so  much 
fidelity  and  skill  as  to  win  the  commendation  of  his  superior  officers.  Before 
the  column  to  which  Lieutenant  Burnside  joined  himself  could  reach  the  capital, 
the  battles  in  front  of  the  city  of  Mexico  had  been  fought,  and  the  war  was  vir 
tually  finished.  He  was  thus  deprived  of  the  opportunity  which  he  desired  of 
participating,  to  any  great  extent,  in  the  active  operations  of  the  armies  in  the 


826  AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURN  SIDE. 

field.  When  peace  was  proclaimed,  lie  was  ordered  to  Fort  Adams,  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  and  was  employed  at  that  post  until  the  spring  of  1849.  His 
natural  refinement  of  manner,  his  urbane  deportment,  and  his  frank  and  manly 
bearing,  gained  him  many  friends,  and  here  he  laid  the  foundation  of  that  re 
markable  esteem  with  which  he  is  regarded  in  the  state  of  Rhode  Island. 

In  the  year  1849,  he  was  transferred  from  the  agreeable  duty  of  the  post  at 
Fort  Adams,  and  ordered  to  New  Mexico,  to  join  Bragg's  famous  battery,  of 
which  he  was  now  appointed  first-lieutenant.  It  was  found  that  the  country 
was  not  favorable  for  the  operations  of  light  artillery.  Bragg's  command  was 
reorganized  as  cavalry,  and  Lieutenant  Burnside  was  put  in  charge  of  a  com 
pany.  The  service  was  very  exciting  and  perilous,  but  our  lieutenant  acquitted 
himself  with  such  coolness  and  bravery  as  to  receive  warm  encomium  for  his 
conduct.  He  reached  New  Mexico  on  the  1st  of  August,  and  immediately  went 
into  the  field.  On  the  21st  of  that  month,  while  scouring  the  country  near  Los 
Vegas,  with  a  force  of  twenty-nine  men,  he  saw  a  company  of  Indians,  sixty  or 
seventy -five  strong,  drawn  up  at  the  head  of  a  ravine,  prepared  to  dispute  his 
progress.  He  immediately  determined  to  attack  them ;  and,  after  a  single  dis 
charge  of  their  rifles,  his  men,  led  by  their  gallant  commander,  charged  with 
sabres,  and  swept  the  Apaches  like  chaff  before  them.  In  this  brief  and  brilliant 
engagement,  eighteen  Indians  were  killed,  nine  were  taken  prisoners,  forty  horses 
were  captured,  and  the  whole  band  was  effectually  dispersed.  The  commander 
of  the  post,  Captain  Judd,  complimented  Burnside,  in  dispatches,  in  the  highest 
terms,  and  recommended  him  for  promotion. 

In  the  winter  of  1850-'ol,  we  find  Lieutenant  Burnside  acceptably  filling 
the  office  of  quartermaster  of  the  boundary  commission,  then  occupied  in  running 
the  line  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  as  established  by  the  treaty  of 
peace  negotiated  by  the  two  nations.  In  September,  1851,  he  was  ordered  across 
the  plains  of  the  Far  West,  as  bearer  of  dispatches  to  the  government.  It  was  a 
duty  requiring  the  utmost  vigilance,  prudence,  and  persistence.  It  was  necessary 
that  the  dispatches  which  he  bore  should  reach  Washington  at  the  earliest  pos 
sible  moment.  With  an  escort  of  three  men — one  of  whom  was  his  faithful 
negro-servant,  who  has  followed  his  fortunes  for  several  years  with  singular  devo 
tion — he  started  on  his  difficult  enterprise.  Twelve  hundred  miles  of  wilderness, 
occupied  by  hostile  Indians  and  wild  beasts,  lay  between  him  and  civilization. 
He  accomplished  the  distance  in  seventeen  days,  meeting  with  many  adventures 
and  hair-breadth  escapes  upon  the  way.  At  one  time  a  party  of  Indians  was 
upon  his  trail  for  more  than  twenty-four  hours,  and  he  only  escaped  by  taking 
advantage  of  the  darkness  of  the  night  to  double  upon  his  pursuers.  He  fully 
accomplished  the  object  of  his  mission,  and  received  the  thanks  of  the  war 
department  for  his  efficiency  and  success. 


AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURNSIDE.  327 

During  his  service  in  New  Mexico,  lie  had  found  that  the  carbine  with 
which  the  troops  were  armed  was  a  wholly  inadequate  weapon  for  the  peculiar 
warfare  of  the  plains.  While  uporr  his  journey  to  Washington,  he  occupied  his 
mind  with  an  attempt  to  supply  the  defect.  The  result  of  his  reflection  and 
study  was  the  invention  of  the  new  breech-loading  rifle,  which  bears  the  name 
of  its  inventor,  and  seems  a  perfect  weapon.  Lieutenant  Burnside  was  desirous 
that  his  own  country  should  receive  the  benefit  of  his  labors,  and  he  offered  to 
contract  with  the  government  for  the  manufacture  of  the  arm.  Pending  nego 
tiation,  he  returned  to  his  former  post  at  Newport.  While  here,  on  the  27th  of 
April,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Bishop,  of  Providence,  a  lady  of  great 
force  of  character  and  of  most  amiable  disposition. 

The  expectation  of  a  contract  for  the  manufacture  of  the  newly -invented 
rifle,  and  his  marriage,  decided  Lieutenant  Burnside  to  leave  the  service,  and  he 
resigned  his  commission.  Eemoving  to  Bristol,  he  built  a  manufactory,  and 
made  all  necessary  arrangements  for  completing  his  business  negotiations  with 
the  government.  Unfortunately  for  him,  the  contract  was  not  consummated ; 
and,  after  three  or  four  years  of  struggle  and  loss,  Mr.  Burnside  became  so  deeply 
involved  and  embarrassed  as  to  prevent  any  further  progress  in  his  adopted  occu 
pation.  He  was  still  more  embarrassed  by  the  action  of  John  B.  Floyd,  who 
became  secretary  of  war  in  1857,  and  found  himself  compelled  to  withdraw  en 
tirely  from  the  manufacture  -of  arms.  With  characteristic  high-mindedness,  he 
gave  up  every  thing  which  he  possessed,  including  his  patent,  to  his  creditors ; 
and,  selling  even  his  uniform  and  sword,  sought  to  retrieve  his  fortunes  at  the 
West.  He  went  to  Chicago,  April  27th,  1858,  and  obtained  a  situation  as  cashier 
in  the  land  department  of  the  Illinois  Central  Eailroad.  His  old  friend  and 
schoolfellow,  Captain  George  B.  McClellan,  occupied  an  honorable  position  in 
the  same  railroad  company,  and  the  two  soldiers  once  more  made  their  quarters 
together.  Burnside,  limiting  his  expenses  to  a  certain  amount,  devoted  the 
remainder  of  his  salary  to  the  payment  of  his  debts ;  and  when  afterward  he  was 
enabled  to  free  himself  entirely  from  the  claims  of  his  creditors,  his  unblemished 
integrity  in  business  was  as  conspicuous  as  his  former  gallantry  in  the  field.  In 
June,  1860,  he  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  treasurer  of  the  railroad  company. 

The  intelligence  of  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  proclamation 
of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  awakened  Mr.  Burnside's  patriotism,  and 
he  felt  once  more  impelled  to  take  the  field.  His  country  had  given  him  his 
education,  and  he  felt  that  to  his  country  his  life  and  services  were  due.  His 
residence  in  Rhode  Island  had  endeared  him  to  the  people  of  that  gallant  state, 
and  he  had  already  held  the  highest  command  of  the  state  militia.  When  the 
first  regiment  of  Rhode  Island  troops  was  offered  to  the  secretary  of  war  by  the 
governor  of  that  state,  it  was  to  him  that  all  eyes  turned  for  the  command.  He 

25 


328  AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURN  SIDE. 

was  appointed  colonel,  immediately  closed  his  desk  of  business,  and  repaired  to 
Providence.  There  he  devoted  his  time  to  the  organization  and  equipment  of 
the  regiment ;  and  so  effectively  was  the  work  performed,  that  on  Thursday, 
April  18th,  the  light  battery  of  six  guns,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  was 
embarked  on  board  a  steamer,  and  sailed  to  New  York,  on  the  way  to  "Washing 
ton.  On  Saturday,  the  first  detachment  of  the  regiment,  five  hundred  and  forty- 
four  officers  and  men — armed,  uniformed,  provisioned  for  a  three  weeks'  cam 
paign,  and  abundantly  supplied  with  ammunition — left  Providence  by  steamer. 
Transferred  to  the  government  transport  Coatzocoalcos  at  New  York,  the  com 
mand  proceeded  to  Annapolis  without  delay,  arriving  on  Wednesday,  April  23d. 

On  Thursday  morning  the  troops  took  up  the  line  of  march,  and,  bivouack 
ing  on  the  road,  reached  Annapolis  Junction  early  on  Friday  morning.  Taking 
cars  Jit  that  point,  they  went  on  to  Washington,  reaching  the  capital  at  noon. 
The  light  battery,  which  had  stopped  at  Easton,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  remain 
der  of  the  regiment,  arrived  at  Washington  in  the  early  part  of  the  following 
week ;  and  twelve  hundred  Khode  Island  men,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Burnside,  were  thus  ready  for  any  emergency.  The  regiment,  under  the  thor 
ough  discipline  of  its  commander,  soon  took  high  rank  in  the  army  for  character 
and  efficiency.  Its  camp,  located  in  the  northern  suburbs  of  the  city,  became  a 
favorite  place  of  resort,  and  was  considered  a  model  of  its  kind.  The  excellent 
reputation  which  the  regiment  had  acquired,  was  mainly  due  to  the  unwearied 
efforts  and  the  unceasing  vigilance  of  its  colonel.  In  June,  the  regiment  joined 
General  Patterson's  column,  intended  for  the  reduction  of  Harper's  Ferry ;  but, 
on  the  evacuation  of  that  place  by  the  rebels,  it  was  recalled  to  Washington,  in 
anticipation  of  an  attack  upon  the  capital. 

Upon  the  advance  toward  Manassas,  in  July,  Colonel  Burnside  was  placed 
in  command  of  a  brigade,  consisting  of  four  regiments  and  a  battery,  viz. :  the 
first  Rhode  Island ;  the  second  Rhode  Island,  with  its  battery  of  light  artillery, 
which  had  reached  Washington  in  June ;  the  second  New  Hampshire,  which  had 
also  arrived  in  June ;  and  the  seventy-first  New  York,  which  had  accompanied 
the  Rhode  Island  troops  on  the  march  from  Annapolis,  in  April.  Colonel  Burn- 
side  had  been  offered  a  brigadier-generalship  upon  his  first  arrival  at  Washing 
ton,  but  had  declined  it,  on  the  ground  of  duty  to  his  own  regiment  and  state. 
But  when  it  became  necessary  to  organize  the  army,  preparatory  to  an  advance 
into  Virginia,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  accept  the  post  which  was  now  pressed  upon 
him.  His  brigade  was  joined  to  the  division  under  Colonel  David  Hunter,  and 
with  the  rest  of  the  army  left  Washington  on  Tuesday,  July  16th.  The  division 
bivouacked  at  Annandalc,  and  on  Wednesday,  with  Colonel  Burnside's  brigade 
in  advance,  pushed  on  to  Fairfax  Court  House.  On  Thursday,  the  whole  army 
encamped  at  Centreville,  after  a  skirmish  between  a  part  of  General  Tyler's 


AMBROSE     EVERETT     BUIINSIDE. 


329 


division  and  the  rebels  at  Blackburn's  Ford.  On  Sunday  morning,  July  21st, 
the  army  moved  toward  Manassas  Junction. 

In  the  disastrous  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Colonel  Burnside  and  his  brigade  were 
conspicuous  for  their  bravery  and  steadiness.  They  were  among  the  troops  to 
whom  that  day's  events  brought  no  disgrace.  Burnside's  own  regiment  showed, 
by  its  gallantry  and  coolness,  that  its  colonel's  labors  had  produced  the  finest 
results.  The  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  also  proved  what  good  soldiers 
could  do  in  the  hands  of  a  brave  and  able  officer.  The  battery  of  the  second 
Ehode  Island  was  most  efficiently  served,  and  the  regiment  itself  was  particularly 
distinguished  for  its  gallantry.  General  M'Dowell  had  already  complimented 
Colonel  Burnside  upon  his  command,  and  declared  that  he  should  rely  upon  the 
brigade  in  the  time  of  action.  Accordingly,  in  the  flank  movement  toward  Sud- 
ley's  Ford,  by  Colonel  Hunter's  division,  Burnside's  brigade  took  the  advance — 
the  second  Rhode  Island  regiment,  under  Colonel  Slocum,  a  most  gallant  and 
accomplished  officer,  leading  the  column. 

Soon  after  crossing  Bull  Run  at  Sudley's  Ford,  about  half-past  nine  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  the  leading  regiment  was  attacked  by  the  enemy.  Colonel  Hunter,  who 
was  in  advance,  was  wounded  very  early  in  the  action ;  and  Colonel  Burnside, 
being  in  command  of  the  troops  till  Colonel  Porter,  who  was  in  the  rear,  came 
up,  at  once  led  the  residue  of  his  brigade  forward,  and,  posting  them  most  advan 
tageously,  succeeded  in  beating  back  the  enemy's  attack,  and  driving  him  from 
the  part  of  the  field  where  he  had  taken  position.  Colonel  Porter's  brigade  was 
deployed  to  the  right,  and  Colonel  Heintzelman's  division  took  post  still  farther 
upon  the  right.  Colonel  Burnside's  brigade,  assisted  by  Major  Sykes's  bat 
talion  of  regulars,  stood  the  brunt  of  the  enemy's  attack  in  complete  order  for 
nearly  two  hours,  when,  having  completed  the  work  assigned  to  it,  with  a  loss 
of  three  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  and  being  relieved  by  Colonel  Sherman's 
brigade,  it  was  withdrawn  to  replenish  its  now  exhausted  supply  of  ammunition, 
and  to  await  orders  to  renew  the  contest.  But  the  order  which  came  was  not 
to  advance,  but  to  retrea£  Colonel  Burnside  at  once  collected  his  brigade, 
formed  his  regiments  in  oolumn  by  the  side  of  the  road,  waited  till  the  larger 
portion  of  the  disorganized  troops  had  passed,  and  with  Major  Sykes's  battalion 
of  regulars  and  Captain  Arnold's  regular  battery  in.  the  rear,  prepared  to  cover 
the  retreat  along  the  forest-path  over  which  the  division  had  marched  in  the 
morning. 

The  admirable  disposition  thus  made  by  Colonel  Burnside  and  Major  Sykes, 
under  General  M'Dowell's  direction,  contributed  greatly  to  the  safety  of  the 
broken  army  in  its  perilous  march  through  the  woods.  On  emerging  from  the 
forest-path,  the  artillery  passed  to  the  front,  and  the  infantry  were  left  unpro 
tected.  The  retreat  continued  in  good  order  till  the  army  reached  the  bridge  on 


330  AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURNSIDE. 

the  Warrenton  turnpike,  crossing  Cub  Eun.  Near  this  place,  the  rebels  had 
brought  up  a  battery  of  artillery,  a  regiment  or  two  of  infantry,  and  a  squadron 
of  cavalry,  and  attempted  to  cut  off  our  defeated  forces.  They  succeeded  in  ob 
structing  the  bridge  sufficiently  to  prevent  the  passage  of  many  baggage-wagons, 
ambulances,  and  gun-carriages,  and  at  this  place  the  greatest  loss  of  cannon  by  the 
national  troops  occurred.  When  Colonel  Burnside  reached  the  bridge,  it  was  in 
such  condition  as  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  crossing,  and  he  ordered  the  men  to 
ford  the  stream,  and  rally  at  Centreville.  The  scattered  forces  sought  the  camps 
which  they  had  left  in  the  morning,  and  prepared  to  pass  the  night.  General 
M'Dowell  soon  sent  orders  to  continue  the  retreat  to  Washington.  The  brigade 
reached  Long  Bridge  about  seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Monday,  July  22d, 
and  two  hours  later  entered  Washington,  in  the  order  in  which  it  had  quitted 
the  city  on  the  Tuesday  previous.  The  regiments  composing  it  immediately 
marched  to  their  respective  camps.  Colonel  Burnside's  bearing,  in  all  the  expe 
rience  of  the  day  and  night,  was  all  that  could  be  expected  of  a  man  and  a 
soldier,  and  he  at  once  attracted  the  attention  of  the  country  to  his  gallantry, 
generalship,  and  skill. 

The  term  of  service  for  which  the  first  Ehode  Island  regiment  had  enlisted, 
expired  on  the  day  before  the  battle ;  but  the  regiment,  having  suffered  little  or 
no  demoralization,  was  ready  to  remain  longer  at  Washington,  if  its  services 
should  be  required.  Colonel  Burnside  was  unwilling  to  return  to  Rhode  Island 
till  he  was  assured  that  the  capital  was  beyond  danger  of  an  attack.  His  officers 
and  men  shared  his  feelings.  But  the  war  department  had  resolved  upon  a  reor 
ganization  of  the  army,  and  the  three  months'  regiments  were  all  ordered  to  their 
homes.  The  second  regiment  from  Rhode  Island,  with  its  battery,  was  left  in  the 
field ;  while  the  first  returned  to  Providence,  and  was  there  mustered  out  of  the 
service  of  the  United  States.  Colonel  Burnside,  with  his  regiment,  received  the 
thanks  of  the  general  assembly  of  Rhode  Island  for  the  fidelity  and  bravery  with 
which  he  and  they  had  performed  their  duties.  Colonel  Burnside's  services  were 
also  recognized  by  the  general  government,  and  he  was  at  once  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general,  his  commission  dating  August  6th,  1862. 

Immediately  upon  receiving  his  commission,  General  Burnside  was  sum 
moned  to  Washington,  to  assist  in  reorganizing  the  forces  in  front  of  the  capital. 
He  was  employed  in  brigading  the  troops  as  they  arrived,  and  assigning  them 
places  of  encampment.  To  his  excellent  judgment  in  this  respect,  and  his  great 
executive  skill,  the  efficiency  of  the  army  was  to  a  great  degree  due,  in  those  dark 
days  of  the  republic. 

Later  in  the  season,  several  expeditions  were  projected,  to  operate  at  differ 
ent  points  upon  the  Southern  coast.  The  most  hazardous  and  difficult  of  these, 
designed  to  effect  a  lodgement  upon  the  dangerous  shores  of  North  Carolina,  and, 


AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURNSIDE. 


831 


carrying  a  force  into  the  interior,  in  the  rear  of  the  rebel  army  in  Virginia,  to 
cut  off  communication  with  tke  South,  was  intrusted  to  the  genius  and  ability 
of  Burnside.  For  more  than  two  months  he  was  indefatigably  employed  at  his 
head-quarters,  in  the  city  of  New  York,  preparing  for  this  important  enterprise. 
The  expedition  finally  set  sail  from  Annapolis  in  the  early  part  of  January,  1862. 
Fifteen  thousand  men  were  embarked  upon  a  large  fleet  of  transports,  and,  con 
voyed  by  numerous  gunboats,  proceeded  to  the  place  of  their  destination.  The 
route  of  the  expedition  lay  through  Hatteras  Inlet  into  Albemarle  Sound.  It 
was  a  short  voyage  indeed,  but  a  most  perilous  one.  Cape  Hatteras,  noted  for 
its  storms,  is  the  terror  of  every  mariner  whose  course  lies  along  the  North  Amer 
ican  coast.  The  wintry  season  added  to  the  dangers  of  the  navigation.  The 
expedition  had  hardly  left  the  land-locked  waters  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  when  a 
most  terrific  storm  burst  upon  the  armada  with  frightful  fury.  The  tortuous 
and  shifting  channel  leading  through  the  inlet  into  the  sound  was  to  be  found 
and  followed  in  the  very  teeth  of  the  wind,  when  the  storm  was  at  its  height. 
The  inlet  itself  had  been  produced  by  the  sea  breaking  across  the  narrow  spit  of 
sand  from  which  Cape  Hatteras  projects,  and  the  depth  of  the  channel  shifts  and 
changes  with  the  varying  influence  of  the  wind  and  tide.  It  was  found,  there 
fore,  that  several  of  the  vessels  which  at  New  York  had  been  certified  to  be  of 
light  draught,  sufficient  to  pass  through  the  channel,  could  not  be  got  over  the 
bar.  The  consequence  was,  that  a  large  portion  of  the  fleet  was  in  imminent 
danger  of  shipwreck. 

For  nearly  a  week  the  storm  continued,  and  the  deplorable  situation  of 
affairs  seemed  to  indicate  the  destruction  of  the  entire  expedition  at  the  very 
threshold  of  its  career.  In  this  most  trying  crisis,  General  Burnside's  admirable 
qualities  shone  forth  in  illustrious  light.  It  is  the  universal  testimony  of  all  who 
were  connected  with  this  expedition,  that  the  bearing  of  its  brave  commander 
was  beyond  all  praise.  He  seemed  to  be  omnipresent.  .  Wherever  the  troops 
were  to  be  rescued  from  their  perilous  position,  wherever  the  danger  was  most 
threatening,  wherever  encouragement  was  needed,  wherever  help  was  most  timely, 
there  always  appeared  the  general ;  and,  by  exertions  beneath  which  any  man 
with  a  less  lofty  purpose  and  a  less  persistent  energy  would  have  sunk  exhausted, 
the  expedition  was  brought  to  a  safe  anchorage  within  Albemarle  Sound,  and 
the  forces  landed  in  good  order.  Only  a  few  vessels  foundered,  and  two  or  three 
lives  were  lost  by  the  accidental  swamping  of  a  life-boat.  Encompassed  by  perils 
and  threatened  with  disasters,  General  Burnside  never  lost  his  courage,  his  hope, 
and  his  faith.  Buoyed  up  in  the  midst  of  misfortune  by  his  unswerving  trust  in 
the  care  of  a  superintending  Providence,  he  stood  serene  and  unmoved  at  his 
post  of  duty,  and  conquered  even  the  elements  by  an  unwearied  patience. 

Harassed  by  the  delays  caused  by  the  storm,  active  operations  against  the 


332  AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURN  SIDE. 

.rebels  could  not  at  once  be  commenced.  The  plan  agreed  upon  by  General 
McClellan  arid  the  authorities  at  Washington  was,  to  threaten  Norfolk  by  an 
attack  upon  the  rebel  stronghold  of  Eoanoke  Island,  before  proceeding  to  the 
mainland.  Every  thing  was  prepared  for  this  initial  step  by  the  first  of  Febru 
ary;  and  on  the  5th  of  that  month,  the  troops  being  embarked  on  board  the 
transports  (and  the  gunboats,  under  the  command  of  Commodore  L.  M.  Golds- 
borough,  being  ready  to  move),  the  whole  fleet  steamed  slowly  up  toward  the 
entrance  of  Albemarle  Sound.  On  the  6th,  the  gunboats  entered  Croatan  Sound, 
engao-ed  the  rebel  fleet,  and  bombarded  the  water-batteries  of  the  enemy  on 
Eoanoke  Island.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  7th,  the  troops  were  landed;  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  attack  was  made  upon  the  key  of  the  position,  a 
battery  in  the  centre  of  the  island.  The  battle  lasted  two  hours,  and  resulted  in 
the  complete  victory  of  the  national  forces,  which  placed  in  General  Burnside's 
hands  six  forts  and  batteries,  forty  cannon,  over  two  thousand  prisoners  of  war, 
and  three  thousand  stands  of  arms.  The  national  loss  was  thirty -five  killed  and 
two  hundred  wounded. 

Commodore  Goldsborough  immediately  sent  a  fleet  of  gunboats  up  the  Pas- 
quotank  and  Chowan  Rivers,  by  which  the  rebel  gunboats  were  sunk,  captured, 
or  driven  away ;  and  Elizabeth  City,  Hertford,  Edenton,  and  Plymouth,  fell  into 
the  possession  of  the  Union  troops. 

These  brilliant  successes  were  hailed  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm  by  the 
people  of  the  North.  Following  swiftly  upon  the  defeat  of  the  rebels  under 
General  Zollicoffer  at  .Mill  Spring,  Kentucky,  they  served  to  revive  the  spirits 
of  the  loyal  men,  and  to  assure  them  of  greater  victories  to  come.  By  none  was 
the  intelligence  of  Burnside's  triumph  more  gratefully  received  than  by  the 
people  of  Rhode  Island.  The  general  assembly,  wrhich  was  in  session,  immedi 
ately  voted  General  Burnside  a  sword  in  honor  of  the  victory,  and  the  thanks  of 
the  representatives  of  the  people  to  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command. 
Massachusetts,  through  her  legislature,  expressed  her  gratitude.  The  Congress 
of  the  United  States  and  the  heads  of  the  government  acknowledged  by  their 
action  their  sense  of  the  importance  of  this  great  success ;  and  the  President 
nominated  General  Burnside  a  major-general  of  volunteers.  The  Senate  con 
firmed  the  nomination  on  the  18th  of  March,  1862. 

Meanwhile,  General  Burnside  was  not  idle.  Releasing  his  prisoners  by  ex 
change,  in  order  that  the  record  of  Bull  Run  might  be  thoroughly  effaced,  he 
prepared  to  make  further  advances  upon  the  enemy's  forces.  In.  pursuance  of 
the  instructions  of  the  general-in-chief,  Burnside  once  more  embarked  his  troops 
on  the  6th  of  March,  and  made  ready  to  strike  another  and  more  decisive  blow. 
This  time  it  was  Newbern  that  was  destined  to  feel  the  weight  of  his  loyal  hand. 
On  Wednesday,  March  12th,  the  expedition  passed  the  scene  of  its  first  disasters  ; 


AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURNSIDE. 


333 


on  the  morning  of  Thursday,  the  troops  were  landed  at  the  mouth  of  Slocum's 
Creek,  on  the  Neuse  river,  a  distance  of  ten  miles  south  of  Newborn ;  and,  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  same  day,  a  fatiguing  march  of  seven  miles,  flanked  and  pro 
tected  by  the  gunboats  in  the  river,  brought  them  within  a  short  distance  of  the 
enemy's  intrenchments,  passing  one  or  two  deserted  batteries  on  the  way.  Here 
they  bivouacked  in'  the  midst  of  a  drenching  rain ;  and  early  on  the  morning  of 
Friday,  March  14th,  they  were  roused  and  prepared  to  make  the  attack. 

The  battle  commenced  about  half-past  seven  o'clock,  and  continued  for  four 
hours.  The  enemy  was  strongly  intrenched  in  batteries  and  rifle-pits,  at  least  a 
mile  in  length,  and  bravely  defended  his  works.  But  nothing  could  withstand 
the  valor  and  endurance  of  our  brave  troops,  and  the  consummate  skill  of  their 
leader.  The  contest  was  decided,  as  at  Eoanoke,  by  a  bayonet-charge,  and  the 
rebels  fled  in  precipitate  haste.  They  escaped  by  means  of  the  bridges  crossing 
the  River  Trent  to  Newbern,  and  retreated  in  disorder  and  panic  by  the  railroad 
to  Goldsborough.  Our  troops  were  prevented  from  following  by  the  destruction 
of  the  bridges,  which  the  rebels  burnt  as  they  retreated.  The  gunboats  and 
transports  were  delayed  by  a  dense  fog,  but,  as  soon  as  they  came  up,  carried  the 
troops  across  to  the  city.  It  was  too  late  to  overtake  the  flying  foe,  and  only 
two  hundred  prisoners  were  captured. 

By  this  success — hardly  bought,  indeed,  by  the  loss  of  eighty-six  killed,  and 
four  hundred  and  thirty-eight  wounded — all  the  rebel  intrenchments  and  batter 
ies,  mounting  between  fifty  and  sixty  pieces  of  cannon,  large  quantities  of  stores, 
ammunition,  arms,  tents,  and  baggage,'  and  the  city  of  Newbern,  came  into  the 
possession  of  the  victorious  and  gallant  chief.  Two  steamers,  eight  schooners, 
the  water-batteries,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  cotton,  were  the  prizes  of  the 
naval  portion  of  the  expedition,  under  the  command  of  Captain  S.  C.  Eowan. 
The  victory  was  complete,  and  the  intelligence  was  received  with  heartfelt  joy 
throughout  the  North.  Some  anxiety  had  been  felt  lest  a  part  of  the  rebel  army, 
which  had  evacuated  Manassas  the  week  previous,  should  march  into  North 
Carolina,  and  intercept  Burnside  on  his  way.  The  enthusiasm  was  heightened 
by  the  relief  which  his  success  had  given,  and  the  assurance  of  his  safety,  which 
was  thus  placed  beyond  question. 

Continued  victory  seemed  to  wait  upon  his  steps.  General  Burnside  is  a 
man  who  knows  how  to  improve  his  successes ;  and  as  soon  as  Newbern  had 
been  reduced,  an  expedition  was  sent  to  Washington,  to  occupy  that  place. 
Beaufort  also  became  an  object  for  the  general's  victorious  arms ;  and  on  Sun 
day,  March  23d,  General  Parke's  brigade  peaceably  took  possession  of  More- 
head  City,  opposite  that  town.  Fort  Macon  was  immediately  summoned,  and, 
upon  the  refusal  of  the  officer  in  command  to  surrender,  measures  were  imme 
diately  taken  to  force  a  capitulation.  General  Burnside  repaired  to  the  scene  of 


334  AMBROSE      EVERETT      BURN  SIDE. 

operations,  that  lie  might  personally  superintend  the  investment  of  the  place. 
Meanwhile,  the  enemy's  forces  were  concentrating  at  Goldsborough  and  Kings 
ton,  threatening  the  recapture  of  Newborn.  General  Burnside  did  not  allow  his 
vigilance  to  relax  in  guarding  the  approaches  to  either  place;  and,  leaving  a 
sufficient  force  at  Beaufort,  he  hastened  back  to  Newbern,  to  fortify  that  impor 
tant  position.  Every  arrangement  was  made  to  give  the  foe  a  warm  reception. 

During  the  time  General  McClellan  was  pressed  for  want  of  reeenforcernents 
at  Harrison's  Landing,  General  Burnside  was  directed  to  take  all  the  available 
force  he  could  spare,  and  form  a  junction  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  which 
he  did  on  the  eighth  of  July.  In  a  consultation  he  had  with  General  McClellan, 
he  advised  bringing  away  more  troops  from  North-Carolina,  and,  in  fact,  with 
drawing  all  the  Union  forces  from  that  department ;  but  after  a  military  confer 
ence  between  Generals  Ilalleck,  McClellan,  and  Burnside,  the  latter  returned  to 
his  headquarters  at  Fortress  Monroe,  and  on  the  second  of  August,  his  command 
embarked  for  Acquia  Creek,  where  it  arrived  at  night  of  the  third.  On  the  sixth, 
General  Burnside  destroyed  a  portion  of  the  railroad  near  Fredericksburgh,  Va., 
and  also  a  large  quantity  of  stores  en  route  for  the  rebel  army.  A  few  days 
afterward,  he  issued  a  general  order  strictly  prohibiting  the  seizure  of  private 
property  by  unauthorized  parties,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth,  he  formally  relin 
quished  the  command  of  the  department  of  North-Carolina,  dating  his  farewell 
order  from  Fredericksburgh.  He  was  now  attached  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  after  the  battle  of  South-Mountain  pursued  the  retreating  enemy  on  the 
Boonsboro  road.  In  the  battle  of  Antietam,  he  commanded  the  left  wing,  but 
could  only  hold  his  ground  without  advancing.  On  the  twenty-seventh  of  Octo 
ber,  General  Burnside's  wing  of  the  army  crossed  the  Potomac,  and  moved  down 
along  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge  in  Virginia,  and  on  the  thirtieth  formed  a 
junction  with  the  forces  under  General  Si  gel,  operating  in  the  vicinity  of  Ma- 
nassas  Junction,  Va.  A  week  later,  General  McClellan  was  relieved  from  com 
mand  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  Major-General  Burnside  appointed  in  his 
place.  At  this  time,  November  seventh,  1862,  the  army  was  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Potomac,  with  instructions  to  pursue  General  Lee  by  a  flank  march  on  the 
interior  line  to  Richmond.  On  reaching  Warrenton,  however,  General  Burnside 
proposed  ta  give  up  this  pursuit  of  Lee's  army,  and  to  move  down  the  north  side 
of  the  Rappahannock  to  Falmouth,  establishing  a  new  base  of  supplies  at  Acquia 
Creek.  This  change  was  not  according  to  what  the  War  Office  desired,  but  it  was 
allowed,  with  slight  modification.  He  was  to  cross  his  army  by  the  fords  of  the 
Upper  Rappahannock,  and  then  move  down  and  seize  the  heights  of  Fredericks 
burgh. 

General  Burnside  commenced  his  movement  from  Warrenton,  on  the  fif 
teenth  of  November,  his  advance  reaching  Falmouth  on  the  twentieth,  and  very 
shortly  afterward  the  rebel  army  under  General  Lee  had  strongly  intrenched  the 


AMBROSE      EVERETT      BURN  SIDE.  335 

heights ;  but  the  Union  troops  managed  to  effect  a  passage  across  the  river,  on 
the  eleventh  of  December,  without  serious  opposition.  Then  began  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburgh,  continuing  until  the  fifteenth,  and  which  ended  by  the  with 
drawal  of  our  forces  on  that  day,  after  suffering  terrible  losses.  It  was  a  defeat 
that  brought  much  animadversion  upon  the  authorities,  as  well  as  upon  General 
Burnside,  until  the  latter  publicly  took  the  entire  blame  by  asserting  that  he 
alone  was  responsible,  having  acted  against  the  opinions  of  the  President,  the 
Secretary  of  War,  and  General  Halleck. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  January,  1863,  General  Burnside  was  relieved  from 
his  command,  but  was  not  long  without  duty.  In  March,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  department  of  Ohio,  and  assumed  command  on  the  third  of  April.  lie  there 
attended  to  the  several  duties  that  devolved  upon  him,  and  despatched  his  cav 
alry  and  portions  of  the  infantry  in  various  directions  to  embarrass  and  destroy 
the  enemy,  but  owing  to  the  necessity  for  all  spare  troops  being  in  the  West, 
where  important  operations  were  going  on,  he  was  for  several  months  almost 
stationary.  On  the  fifteenth  of  July,  he  deemed  it  necessary  to  declare  martial 
law,  and  some  time  later,  to  suppress  two  newspapers  circulating  in  his  district. 

General  Burnside's  preparations  for  an  active  campaign  were  somewhat  de 
layed  by  the  detachment  of  the  Ninth  army  corps  to  reenforce  General  Grant  at 
Vicksburgh.      The  necessity,  however,   of  cooperating  with  the  movements  of 
General  Rosecrans,  compelled  him  to  take  the  field  without  waiting  the  return 
of  this  corps.     Accordingly,  he  marched  by  three  different  routes  toward  Knox- 
ville,  occupying  Cumberland  Gap,  Kingston,  and  other  places,  and  finally  forced 
the  rebel  garrison  at  Knoxville  to  surrender,  on  the  ninth  of  September.     A 
column  of  cavalry  was,  at  the  same  time,  sent  up  the  valley  to  drive  the  enemy 
back  over  the  Virginia  line.     The  main  body  of  the  army  was  now  ordered  to 
concentrate  on  the  Tennessee  Eiver,  so  as  to  connect  with  General  Rosecrans, 
the  enemy  by  some  skilful  combinations  having  been  driven  out  of  East-Ten 
nessee.      Circumstances,  however,  prevented   this  junction.      General  Burnside 
continued  in  the  upper  valley,  and  after  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the  rebels 
pushed  forward  a  column  to  threaten  his  position  at  London.     There  a  contest 
ensued  for  several  hours,  and  General  Burnside  then  withdrew  to  Knoxville, 
which  he  immediately  fortified.     The  enemy  followed  up,  and  commenged  a  siege 
on  the  seventeenth  of  November.     A  constant  fire  was  kept  up  on  the  lines  of 
the  national  forces,  until  the  twenty-eighth,  when  an  attack  was  proposed  by  the 
rebels  on  a  small  fort  mounting  six  guns,  upon  a  hill  near  the  town,  and  com 
manding  the  approaches  to  it  on  that  side  the  river.     The  attack  was  made  fierce 
ly,  but  the  rebels  were  repulsed  with  severe  loss.     Meantime  the  force  of  General 
Burnside  was  closely  pressed,  and  provisions  became  so  scarce  that  his  troops 
were  put  on  half-rations  of  bread ;  but  on  the  third  of  December  the  cavalry  of 
General  Sherman,  in  advance  of  other  forces,  came  to  his  relief,  and  the  rebels 


336  AMBROSE     EVERETT     BURN  SIDE. 

immediately  raised  the  siege  and  retreated.     Subsequently,  at  his  own  request, 
General  Burnside  was  relieved  of  his  command  by  General  Foster. 

When  the  army  of. the  Potomac  was  reorganized,  General  Burnside  was 
again  placed  in  command,  with  the  Ninth  army  corps  under  his  orders.  He 
shared  in  all  the  severe  battles  that  followed,  meeting  with  several  narrow 
escapes,  and  accompanying  the  army  in  its  movements  to  Petersburgh,  the 
history  of  which  belongs  to  the  present  day. 

General  Burnside's  characteristics  are  finely  illustrated  in  every  act  of  his 
career.  He  is  a  man  of  eminent  truthfulness  and  sincerity.  Thoroughly  beyond 
deceit  or  intrigue,  above  all  jealousy  or  meanness,  open-hearted  as  the  day,  and 
generous  even  to  a  fault,  his  genuine  manhood  shines  through  every  part  of  his 
life.  With  a  quick  sense  of  honor,  and  the  most  conscientious  regard  for  truth, 
he  puts  to  shame  all  baseness  and  falsehood.  The  ways  of  his  life  never  ran 
"in  the  corrupted  cm-rents"  of  the  world,  but  always  flow  from  the  purest  pur 
poses  to  the  truest  results.  With  a  quick  perception  of  character,  he  is  an  adept 
in  the  difficult  art  of  governing.  He  attracts  and  attaches  all  who  approach  him 
by  the  powerful  magnetism  of  the  simplicity  of  his  character  and  the  manliness 
of  his  bearing.  He  has  a  gentle  heart,  a  clear  mind,  a  guileless  conscience,  and 
a  brave  soul.  A  surpassing  devotion  to  duty  makes  him  superior  to  a  wrongful 
intention.  An  unwearied  energy  gives  vigor  to  his  acts.  An  unswerving  trust 
in  God  adorns  his  private  and  public  life.  Prudent  without  timidity,  brave 
without  rashness,  religious  without  pretence,  and  wholly  engaged  in  the  great 
cause  which  has  enlisted  his  powers,  General  Burnside  nobly  unites  the  best 
qualities  of  a  soldier  and  a  man. 

In  the  care  of  his  troops,  in  tender  solicitude  and  untiring  labors  for  their 
welfare,  he  is  unsurpassed.  When  in  command  of  his  regiment,  his  sole  thought 
seemed  to  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  men  intrusted  to  his  guidance.  He  gave  a 
personal  attention  to  all  their  needs.  Always  accessible  to  the  humblest  private 
in  the  ranks,  he  heard  with  unexampled  patience  the  most  trivial  request  or 
complaint,  and  replied  to  each  with  the  necessary  grave  rebuke,  the  wise  counsel, 
or  the  hopeful  encouragement.  In  the  camp  he  was  a  daily  visitant  to  the  hos 
pital,  the  commissariat,  the  quarters  of  the  men,  that  he  might  know,  by  his  own 
inspection,  the  condition  and  necessities  of  all.  On  the  road,  he  always  marched 
on  foot,  that  he  might  measure  the  endurance  of  his  men  by  his  own,  and  inspirit 
them  by  his  example.  In  the  bivouac,  his  own  quarters  were  the  last  to  be  se 
lected  and  the  last  to  be  prepared.  In  the  field,  his  bearing  was  distinguished  for 
coolness,  courage,  and  self-possession,  while  his  dispositions  for  battle  insured  the 
utmost  efficiency  of  his  command.  He  has  carried  these  qualities  to  his  higher 
positions ;  and  thus,  by  their  exercise,  he  awakens  the  sincerest  enthusiasm,  and 
inspires  the  most  implicit  confidence  of  his  soldiers.  From  the  lowest  to  the 
highest  there  is  but  one  opinion  and  one  voice. 


EDWIN     M.     STAISTTON. 

EDWIN  M.  STANTON  was  born  at  Steubenville,  Ohio,  about  the  year  1817. 
After  graduating  at  Kenyon  College,  he  applied  himself  diligently  to  the 
study  of  law  in  Steubenville,  and  rapidly  rose  to  distinction  in  his  profession, 
which  he  practised  for  several  years  in  Ohio.  In  1848  he  removed  to  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  where  his  energy  and  excellence  as  a  lawyer  soon  won  for  him  an  exalted 
position.  He  here  conducted,  with  signal  success,  the  case  involving  the  Wheel 
ing  Bridge  controversy,  wherein,  for  the  first  time,  the  brilliancy  of  his  talents 
received  a  national  recognition. 

With  the  instinct  of  a  lawyer  and  the  zeal  of  an  American,  he  had  early 
turned  his  attention  to  politics.  Though  educated  as  a  Whig,  he  began  his 
career  as  an  ultra  Democrat ;  and  there  were  few  of  the  leading  issues  of  the  day 
wherein  the  weight  of  his  opinion  did  not  leave  a  legible  impress.  At  the 
commencement  of  President  Buchanan's  administration,  he  was  selected  to  repre 
sent  the  Government  in  an  important  land  case  in  California.  Here  again  he  was 
successful.  He  then  commenced  to  practise  law  at  the  national  capital,  and 
shortly  afterward  received  the  appointment  of  Attorney-General. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  term  of  office,  Mr.  Stanton  withdrew  to  pri 
vate  life  and  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania ;  whence, 
however,  at  the  opening  of  the  battle-year  of  1862,  he  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Lin 
coln  to  supersede  Mr.  Cameron  as  Secretary  of  War. 

His  nomination  to  this  important  office  was  unanimously  hailed  as  a  presage 
of  vigor  and  success  by  the  war-favoring  Democratic  press.  The  old  partisan  lines 
had  remained  salient  until  now,  when  the  new  appointment  was  received  as  an 
indication  that  at  last  the  blatant  rebellion  was  to  become  acquainted  with  that 
desideratum  of  freedom-lovers,  a  united  North.  So  soon  as  his  appointment  was 
confirmed  by  the  Senate,  Mr.  Stanton  grasped  the  reins  of  his  difficult  trust  with 
characteristic  vigor. 

But  one  of  his  primary  measures  was  inspired  by  humanity,  evinced  in  the 
issue  of  the  following : 

"  This  Department  recognizes  as  the  first  of  its  duties  to  take  measures  for 
the  relief  of  the  brave  men  who,  having  imperilled  their  lives  in  the  military 
service  of  the  Government,  are  now  prisoners  and  captives.  It  is,  therefore, 


338  EDWIN      M.      STAN  TON. 

ordered,  that  two  Commissioners  be  appointed  to  visit  the  city  of  Eichmond,  in 
Virginia,  and  wherever  else  prisoners  belonging  to. the  army  of  the  United  States 
may  be  held,  and  there  take  such  measures  as  may  be  needful  to  provide  for  the 
wants  and  contribute  to  the  comfort  of  such  prisoners,  at  the  expense  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  such  extent  as  may  be  permitted  by  the  authorities  under 
whom  such  prisoners  are  held." 

Under  this  Order,  the  Eev.  Bishop  Ames  and  the  lion.  Hamilton  Fish  were 
appointed  as  Commissioners. 

The  splendid  success  of  Fort  Donelson  closed  the  winter  which  had  so 
gloomily  set  in,  and  the  victorious  carnage  of  Shiloh  opened  the  spring,  while  the 
annual  swallows  were  winging  northward  like  harbingers  of  peace.  And  in 
April,  1862,  the  Secretary  of  War  ordered  that  the  chaplains  of  every  regiment  in 
the  armies  of  the  United  States  should,  on  "  the  first  Sunday  after  receipt  of  the 
Order,  give  thanks  to  the  Almighty  for  the  great  victories  achieved  by  our  armies, 
and  invoking  the  continuance  of  his  aid." 

He  also  tendered  the  thanks  and  congratulations  of  the  Department  to  Major- 
General  Halleck,  and  other  generals,  and  to  the  armies  under  their  command,  for 
their  gallant  and  meritorious  services. 

The  acts  of  Secretary  Stanton  arc  matters  of  history  which  must  be  freshly 
and  indelibly  fixed  in  the  minds  of  his  fellow-countrymen.  And  yet  they  will 
appear  more  vividly  when  the  scroll  whereon  they  are  inscribed  is  further 
removed  from  our  inspection  ;  for  if  the  hues  of  the  colorist  are  brightest  when 
fresh,  the  yellowing  hand  of  time  alone  can  accord  to  them  that  golden  tone  which 
bespeaks  the  impress  of  the  master-hand.  But  some  of  the  more  important  meas 
ures  of  our  subject  may  be  fittingly  introduced  or  sketched,  as  bearing  strongly 
upon  the  progress  of  events. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  autumn  of  1863,  we  seemed  threatened  with  hostili 
ties  in  a  quarter  unexpectedly  remote  from  that  to  which  we  had  bent  our  ears 
for  the  boom  of  rebel  guns.  A  large  number  of  rebel  prisoners  were  then,  as 
now,  confined  on  Johnson's  Island,  Lake  Erie.  A  conspiracy,  or  supposed  con 
spiracy,  among  them,  came  to  light,  in  which  it  appeared  /that  schemes  were  in 
operation,  in  British  America,  having  for  their  object  the  forcible  release  of  these 
prisoners,  and  the  destruction  of  Ogdensburgh  and  Buffalo.  The  information  was 
derived  from  the  Governor-General  of  Canada,  through  Lord  Lyons,  the  British 
Minister  at  Washington.  Secretary  Stanton  promptly  advised  the  threatened 
cities  and  the  other  lake  ports  of  the  information  received.  While  expressing  the 
intention  of  the  Government  to  use  every  exertion  in  case  of  an  attack  from  Can 
ada,  he  did  not  neglect  to  recommend  and  urge  the  utmost  activity  and  vigilance 
on  the  part  of  the  local  authorities,  at  the  same  time  suggesting  a  course  of  rigid 
inspection  with  regard  to  the  character  of  all  departing  and  incoming  vessels. 


EDWIN      M.      STAN  TON.  339 

If  our  Northern  border  was  really  saved  from  rebel  vengeance  on  this  occa 
sion,  much  of  the  credit  must  be  apportioned  to  the  promptitude  of  our  vigilant 
Secretary  of  War. 

The  peculations  of  army  contractors  next  engaged  his  attention.  Swindlers 
on  a  grand  scale  usually  have  a  much  better  chance  than  their  humbler  brethren 
of  the  thimble-rig  and  special-confidence  school ;  but  in  this  instance,  one  of  the 
former  gentlemen,  who  had  been  amusino;  himself  by  selling  adulterated  coffee  to 

O  7  ,  O  «/ 

the  Government,  was  retired  to  the  lonely  precincts  of  the  Albany  Penitentiary. 
A  similar  energy  was  displayed  by  the  Secretary  in  almost  every  thing  relating 
to  his  Department. 

In  his  Annual  Eeport  for  the  year  1863,  the  courage,  devotion,  patriotism, 
and  brilliant  achievements  of  the  National  armies  are  feelingly  eulogized.  As  to 
the  war-levying  resources  of  the  country,  whereas,  "  at  the  beginning  of  the  war," 
he  remarks,  "  we  were  compelled  to  rely  upon  foreign  countries  for  the  supply  of 
nearly  all  our  arms  and  munitions,  now  all  these  things  are  manufactured  at 
home,  and  we  are  independent  of  foreign  countries,  not  only  for  the  manufacture, 
but  also  for  the  materials  of  which  they  are  composed." 

Another  citation  —  that  respecting  the  Military  Telegraph  —  deserves  to  be 
made.  He  s&js : 

"  On  the  first  day  of  July,  1862,  there  were  three  thousand  five  hundred  and 
seventy-one  miles  of  land  and  submarine  lines  in  working  order.  During  the 
fiscal  year,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-five  miles  of  land  and  subma 
rine  line  were  constructed,  making  the  total  number  of  miles  of  land  and  subma 
rine  military  telegraph  lines  in  operation  during  the  year,  five  thousand  three 
hundred  and  twenty-six,  being  a  length  of  line  sufficient  to  girdle  more  than  one 
fifth  of  the  circumference  of  the  globe.  By  close  estimate,  it  appears  that  at  least 
one  million  two  hundred  thousand  telegrams  have  been  sent  and  received  over 
the  military  lines  in  operation  during  the  fiscal  year  ending  June,  1863,  being  at 
the  rate  of  about  three  thousand  per  diem.  These  messages  varied  in  length 
from  ten  to  one  thousand  words  and  upward,  and  generally  were  of  an  urgent  or 
important  character." 

Mr.  Stanton  still  presides  at  the  head  of  the  "War  Department.  At  the  open 
ing  of  the  present  year,  (1864,)  some  efforts  were  made  to  have  him  removed  from 
the  stormy  helm  he  has  grasped  so  firmly.  ...  Very  probably  the  motive  of  these 
efforts  was  wholly  partisan.  But  few,  however,  even  of  the  opponents  of  Mr. 
Stanton  can  truthfully  withhold  from  him  that  respect  which  is  due  to  prompt 
ness  of  decision,  vigor  of  deed,  and  probity  of  purpose.  And,  at  the  present 
writing,  he  is  still,  very  probably,  a  popular  man. 


JOSEPH    HOOKEK. 

JOSEPH  HOOKER  was  born  in  1815,  in  Hadley,  Massachusetts,  and  is  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Thomas  Hooker,  the  Puritan  pioneer  who,  in  1636,  led 
a  band  of  one  hundred  settlers  through  a  dense  wilderness  to  found  the  city  of 
Hartford  and  the  colony  of  Connecticut. 

His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Seymour,  was  of  Puritan  stock  also,  so 
that  the  iron  will,  unbending  fortitude,  and  bold  love  of  danger  and  adventure, 
which  characterize  the  present  Major-General,  may  all  be  distinctly  traced  to  the 
genuine  Puritan  blood  that  flows  in  his  veins. 

General  Hooker  manifested  from  childhood  a  fondness  for  study,  which  was 
first  cultivated  at  the  Hopkins  Academy,  in  his  native  town,  and  afterward  at  the 
Military  Academy  at  West-Point,  where  he  was  admitted  as  a  cadet  in  his  eigh 
teenth  year,  and  graduated  in  1837,  ranking  twenty-eighth  in  a  class  of  fifty-one 
members.  He  was  at  once  appointed  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  First  artillery, 
and  in  November,  1838,  was  promoted  to  First*  Lieutenant  in  the  same  regiment. 
In  18-41,  Lieutenant  Hooker  was  appointed  Adjutant  at  the  Military  Academy, 
and  the  same  year  Adjutant  of  his  regiment,  which  position  he  held  until  1846. 
During  the  Mexican  war,  Lieutenant  Hooker  served  for  some  time  with  great 
distinction  on  General  Scott's  staff,  as  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  receiving  for 
meritorious  conduct  the  successive  brevets  of  Captain,  Major,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  October,  1848,  he  was  appointed  Captain  of  the 
First  regiment  of  artillery,  and  on  the  same  day  resigned  his  regimental  position, 
retaining,  however,  his  position  as  Assistant  Adjutant-General  with  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  ordered  to  duty  in  Cali 
fornia. 

In  1853,  he  resigned  his  position  as  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  and  pur 
chased  a  farm  in  Sonoma  County,  California,  where  he  remained  till  1855,  super 
intending  in  that  year  the  construction  of  the  national  road  from  California  to 
Oregon,  a  duty  in  which  he  was  engaged  for  a  period  of  two  years. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  Colonel  Hooker  sailed  for  the  Atlantic 
coast,  reaching  New-York  early  in  May,  1861.  His  services  being  immediately 
offered  to  the  Government,  he  was  commissioned  a  Brigadier-General  of  volun 
teers  on  the  seventeenth  of  May,  having  his  appointment  accredited  to  California. 


MAJ    GEN   JOSEPH    HO<  >KER 


JOSEPH      HOOKER.  341 

The  brigade  to  which,  he  was  assigned  was  composed  of  the  First  and  Eleventh 
Massachusetts,  the  Second  New-Hampshire,  and  the  Twenty-sixth  Pennsylvania 
regiments,  all  of  which  became  afterward  distinguished  for  cool  daring  and  patient 
endurance.  General  Hooker  was  first  assigned  to  the  command  of  General  Dix, 
in  the  Department  of  Annapolis,  but  was  subsequently  transferred  to  General  Mc- 
Clellan's  army,  and  assigned  the  duty  of  reducing  to  subordination  the  rebellious 
counties  of  Prince  George  and  Charles  in  Maryland.  For  the  accomplishment  of 
this  purpose,  General  Hooker  was  placed  in  command  of  a  division,  with  which 
he  occupied  the  district  without  loss  of  life,  disarmed  the  secessionists,  took  pos 
session  of  the  entire  peninsula  of  Maryland,  and  completely  broke  up  .for  the  time 
all  communication  by  way  of  Chesapeake  Bay  between  Baltimore  and  the  South 
ern  States. 

When  the  army  of  the  Potomac  went  to  the  Peninsula,  General  Hooker  com 
manded  a  division  in  General  Heintzelman's  corps,  which  passed  through  much 
hard  service  and  lost  heavily  by  sickness  and  picket-duty  in  the  operations  before 
Yorktown,  In  the  pursuit  of  the  rebels  which  followed  the  evacuation  of  that 
town,  General  Hooker's  division  overtook  their  rear-guard  as  they  were  entering 
"\Villiamsburgh  on  the  fifth  of  May,  1862,  when  a  most  sanguinary  battle  ensued, 
lasting  all  day,  and  resulting  in  the  retreat  of  the  rebels  during  the  night. 

General  Hooker  participated  in  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  and  the  defeat  of 
the  enemy  on  the  first  of  June,  1862.  Being  ordered  on  the  second  of  June  to 
make  a  reconnoissance  beyond  the  camp,  he  approached  with  his  division  to  with 
in  less  than  four  miles  of  Richmond  without  serious  loss.  On  the  twenty -seventh 
of  June  was  fought  the  battle  of  Gaines's  Mills,  in  the  course  of  which  Generals 
Hooker  and  Kearny,  the  two .  division  commanders  of  Heintzelman's  corps,  were 
sent  from  the  left  wing  of  the  main  army  to  the  assistance  of  General  Porter, 
whose  men  had  met  with  a  repulse.  Though  unable  wholly  to  turn  the  tide  of 
battle,  they  succeeded  in  checking  the  pursuit  by  covering  the  rear  of  the  retreat 
ing  forces,  and  giving  time  to  the  exhausted  troops  to  withdraw  in  good  order 
from  the  field.  From  this  time  till  its  participation  in  the  battle  of  Glendale,  on 
the  thirtieth  of  June,  General  Hookers  division  saw  but  little  fighting.  On  the 
first  of  July,  however,  it  took  part  in  the  bloody  struggle  of  Malvern  Hill,  the 
crowning  victory  of  the  "Seven  Days'  Contest." 

On  the  fourth  of  July,  1862,  "Fighting  Joe  Hooker,"  as  he  was  familiarly 
known  by  the  soldiers,  was  commissioned  Major-General  of  volunteers,  and  two 
days  after  was  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance  in  force  to-  Malvern  Hill,  which, 
after  hard  fighting,  was  finally  gained. 

These  transactions  were  followed  by  the  recall  of  the  main  army  to  Harri 
son's  Landing  on  the  James,  when  it  remained  under  orders  in  August  to  join  the 
army  of  Virginia  under  Pope,  and  repel  the  rebel  advance. 


JOSEPH      HOOKER. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  August,  1862,  Hooker's  division  had  a  severe  fight 
with  E well's  force  at  Kettle  Run,  Virginia,  winning  the  day  and  inflicting  a  heavy 
loss  on  the  rebels.  It  participated,  on  the  twenty-ninth  and  thirtieth,  in  the  "bat 
tles  of  Centreville  and  Gainesville ;  and,  on  the  first  of  September,  in  the  short 
and  decisive  battle  of  Chantilly,  after  which  General  Hooker  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  General  McDowell's  corps. 

In  the  battle  of  South-Mountain,  which  occurred  on  the  fourteenth  of  Sep 
tember,  General  Hooker  commanded  the  right  wing  of  the  Federal  army,  and  gal 
lantly  succeeded  in  driving  the  enemy  from  their  position  and  over  the  summit 
of  the  mountain  in  great  confusion.  He  held  the  same  command  at  the  battle  of 
Antietam,  which  was  fought  three  days  after,  and  the  active  part  his  corps  took  in 
this  cno-no-ement  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  two  thousand  six  hundred  and  nine- 

O     O  *J 

teen  of  its  numbers  were  reported  as  killed,  wounded,  or  missing,  General  Hooker 
himself  being  among  the  wounded.  For  the  distinguished  bravery  and  skill  he 
displayed  on  this  memorable  occasion,  he  was  appointed  Brigadier-General  in  the 
regular  army,  and  received  the  special  thanks  of  the  President  for  his  gallantry. 
The  wound  he  had  received  compelling  him  to  leave  his  command  for  a  short 
time,  General  Hooker  disappeared  from  participation  in  military  affairs  till  as 
signed  the  command  of  one  of  the  divisions  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  by  Gene 
ral  Burnside,  who  had  recently  been  appointed  its  commander-iii-chief.  General 
Hooker  was  placed  in  command  of  the  centre,  Generals  Sumner  and  Franklin 
commanding  the  other  two  divisions.  His  command  consisted  of  the  divisions  of 
Generals  Birney,  Sickles,  Humphrey,  Griffin,  and  Sykes,  the  last  being  a  division 
of  regulars.  In  the  disastrous  battle  of  Fredericksburgh,  Hooker's  command  was 
held  in  reserve  till  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  December  the  thirteenth,  when 
three  of  his  divisions,  comprising  General  Butterfield's  corps,  were  ordered  to 
support  General  Sumner's  divisions.  Generals  Humphrey  and  Griffin  were  en 
gaged  for  several  hours,  suffering  heavy  loss,  till  finally  the  withdrawal  of  the 
National  forces  to  the  northern  shore  of  the  Eappahannock  was  ordered,  when 
Hooker's  entire  division  was  chosen  to  cover  the  rear.  Soon  after  this  battle, 
General  Burnside  resigned  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  General 
Hooker  was  appointed  his  successor. 

Under  its  new  commander  the  army  was  thoroughly  reorganized  and  purged 
of  many  worthless  and  discontented  officers.  The  winter  passed  without  any 
severe  fighting.  In  the  latter  part  of  April,  however,  General  Hooker  made  an 
advance,  succeeded  in  crossing  the  Rappahannock  above  Fredericksburgh,  and 
reached  Chancellorsville,  a  point  in  the  enemy'  s  rear.  The  rebels  were  not  un 
prepared.  By  a  rapid  movement  on  Saturday,  May  second,  1863,  "  Stonewall  " 
Jackson  hurled  his  entire  corps  of  forty  thousand  men  upon  Hooker's  extreme  right, 
which  was  composed  of  the  Eleventh  army  corps,  under  General  Howard.  After 


JOSEPH      HOOKER.  3-43 

terrific  fighting,  the  Union  lines  were  broken,  and  the  right  driven  back  upon  the 
centre.  The  contest  was  renewed  the  following  day,  but  with  no  decisive  result. 
On  Monday  all  was  quiet  in  the  hostile  camps,  and  on  Tuesday  General  Hooker 
abruptly  withdrew  his  whole  force,  though  the  greater  part  of  it  had  not  been 
engaged. 

In  the  early  part  of  June,  two  rather  severe  cavalry  engagements  took  place 
at  Brandy  and  Rappahannock  Stations,  the  consequence  of  which  was  the  bold 
advance  of  General  Lee  northward  through  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  About  the 
twelfth  of  June,  he  crossed  the  Potomac,  followed  by  General  Hooker  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river,  in  order  to  protect  the  National  capital.  Before  any  thing 
of  special  moment  had  occurred,  Hooker  was  relieved  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  June 
of  the  command  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  General  George  G.  Meade,  one 
of  his  corps  commanders,  appointed  in  his  stead. 

For  some  months  succeeding  this  event  General  Hooker  remained  without 
a  command,  but  about  the  first  of  October  was  assigned  the  command  of  the 
Eleventh  and  Twelfth  corps,  which  were  sent  from  the  army  of  the  Potomac  to 
reenforce  General  Rosecrans  after  the  battle  of  the  Chickamauga.  On  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  October,  he  succeeded  in  capturing  a  strong  position  of  the  rebels  on 
Lookout  Mountain,  which  partially  commanded  Chattanooga,  and  on  the  follow 
ing  night  had  a  severe  battle  at  "Wauhatchee,  defeating  and  routing  the  enemy 
with  heavy  loss.  Upon  the  appointment  of  General  Grant  to  succeed  General 
Rosecrans  in  the  command  of  the  National  forces  in  the  South-West,  the  army  of 
the  Cumberland,  under  General  Thomas,  together  with  the  army  of  the  Ohio, 
under  General  Sherman,  and  the  forces  under  General  Hooker  were  merged  into 
one  grand  army,  for  more  effectual  operations  against  the  enemy  then  in  front  of 
General  Grant. 

On  the  twenty-third  of  November,  General  Grant  commenced  a  forward 
movement  against  the  enemy  in  three  columns.  His  left  was  under  General  Sher 
man,  the  centre  under  General  Thomas,  while  Hooker  commanded  on  the  right. 
The  column  under  General  Thomas  was  the  only  one  engaged  the  first  day ;  on 
the  twenty-fourth,  however,  the  battle  was  renewed  with  increased  vigor,  and  all 
three  columns  took  part  in  the  fight.  General  Hooker's  position  on  the  rig] it 
made  it  necessary  for  him  to  move  against  works  that  the  enemy  had  erected  witli 
great  labor  on  the  north  end  of  Lookout  Mountain.  Moving  up  the  steep  sides 
of  the  mountain,  he  ascended  above  the  region  of  cloud-land,  and  there,  fighting 
like  the  gods  of  mythology,  with  the  heavy  vapors  rolling  between  his  forces  and 
the  valley  below,  attacked  the  enemy's  position,  carried  it  by  storm,  annihilated 
the  rebel  left,  and  made  success  at  that  point  secure.  The  troops  in  the  valley 
before  Chattanooga  were  equally  successful,  and  victory  sat  triumphant  on  the 
banners  of  the  Union.  In  a  congratulatory  letter  written  by  President  Lincoln  to 


344 


JOSEPH     HOOKER. 


General  Grant,  after  the  battle,  General  Hooker  and  his  command  were  the  subject 
of  special  mention. 

In  person,  General  Hooker  is  tall,  finely  proportioned,  and  of  commanding 
presence.  His  bold  and  fearless  nature  amounts  almost  to  recklessness  in  the  in 
different  exposure  of  his  own  life  on  the  field  of  battle.  His  appearance  among 
his  troops  is  electrifying  in  its  effect,  stimulating  their  ardor  and  courage,  and 
winning  by  his  gracious  manner  their  attachment  and  fidelity. 


COM  J(  )ll  X    RODGE  US 


JOHN    RODGEKS. 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  EODGERS  is  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  is  the  son  of 
Commodore  Rodgers,  so  well  .kr^own  in  connection  with  the  distinguished 
deeds  of  the  American  navy  during  its  early  existence.  John  Rodgers,  the  son, 
had  all  the  taste  of  his  father  for  the  sea,  and,  in  1828,  when  very  young,  entered 
the  navy,  where  he  was  soon  noticed  for  his  ability  and  zeal.  He  passed  through 
the  usual  grades  of  Midshipman  and  Lieutenant  with  great  credit  to  himself,  and, 
for  two  years,  was  employed  on  the  Coast  Survey,  and  in  boat  service  against  the 
Seminole  Indians. 

In  1852,  he  was  appointed  second  in  command  of  the  Exploring  Expedition 
sent  to  Behring  Strait,  under  Captain  (now  Commodore)  Ringgold,  and  when  that 
officer  was  invalided  home,  Lieutenant  Rodgers  took  his  post,  carrying  the  Vin- 
cennes  farther  into  the  Arctic  Regions  in  that  direction,  than  any  vessel  had  gone 
before. 

In  1856,  he  returned,  and  having  been  appointed  a  Commander  during  his 
absence,  now  occupied  himself  in  preparing  the  charts  and  report  of  his  expe 
dition.  He  was  thus  engaged,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  interval  in  1858, 
when  he  commanded  the  Water  Witch  in  the  Gulf,  until  the  rebellion  broke  out, 
when  he  immediately  applied  for  active  service,  and  was  sent  with  other  officers 
to  Norfolk  Navy- Yard,  where  he  was  assigned  to  the  difficult  and  dangerous  duty 
of  blowing  up  the  dry  dock.  This  was  done  with  extreme  hazard  to  himself  and 
Captain  (now  General)  Wright  of  the  Engineers,  who,  with  only  one  sailor  in 
attendance,  remained  to  perform  the  work.  They  were  not,  however,  fortunate 
enough  to  escape.  They  had  reached  the  harbor,  and  were  in  a  small  boat  pulling 
away,  when  a  fire  of  musketry  from  the  shore  compelled  them  to  surrender,  and 
they  were  taken  prisoners,  but  soon  afterward  released. 

His  next  appointment  was  to  superintend  the  creating  a  naval  force  on  the 
Western  rivers,  and  here  his  zeal  and  activity  were  displayed  to  the  highest 
degree.  A  flotilla  of  gunboats,  and  several  iron-clads  were  soon  in  readiness,  and 
ultimately  proved  of  great  service  in  the  naval  operations  that  took  place.  But, 
owing  to  some  misunderstanding  with  General  Fremont,  then  in  military  command 
of  that  department,  Commander  Rodgers  was  relieved  by  Captain  (afterward  Ad 
miral)  Foote. 


346  JOIIX      RODGERS. 

On  the  return  of  Commander  Roclgers,  he  was  appointed  to  one  of  the  vessels 
attached  to  the  Port  Royal  Expedition,  and  sailed  in  the  Flag-ship  Wabash  which 
left  Hampton  Roads  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  October,  1861,  and,  after  a  severe 
storm,  anchored  off  the  bar  of  Port  Royal  Harbor  on  the  fourth  of  November. 
Commander  Rodgers  was  then  despatched  in  the  gunboat  Octorara  to  make  a 
rcconnoissance,  which  was  successfully  done;  and,  when,  on  the  seventh,  Fort 
Walker  on  Hilton  Head  was  attacked  by  the  Wabash  and  other  ships  of  the  fleet, 
he  went  on  shore  after  the  enemy's  guns  were  silenced,  and,  finding  the  place 
vacated,  he  hoisted  the  Union  flag,  the  first  time  it  was  waved  on  the  rebel  soil  of 
South-Carolina.  In  the  modest  report  of  this  action  given  by  Commander  Rod 
gers  in  a  letter,  he  says :  "  Commodore  Du  Pont  had  kindly  made  me  his  aid. 
I  stood  by  him,  and  I  did  little  things  which  I  suppose  gained  me  credit.  So 
when  a  boat  was  sent  on  shore  to  ask  whether  they  had  surrendered,  I  was  sent. 
I  carried  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  I  found  the  ramparts  utterly  desolate,  and  I 
planted  the  American  flag  on  those  ramparts  with  my  own  hands— first  to  take 
possession,  in  the  majesty  of  the  United  States,  of  the  rebel  soil  of  South- 
Carolina." 

After  this,  Commander  Rodgers  took  command  of  the  "Flag"  steamer,  and 
proceeded  to  Savannah  River  for  the  purpose  of  examining  it,  and  ascertaining 
the  condition  of  affairs  on  T_ybee  Island.  In  this  he  was  highly  successful.  The 
enemy  had  abandoned  the  place,  and  here,  also  for  the  first  time,  the  Union  flag 
was  hoisted  in  rebel  Georgia.  Many  night  and  boat  expeditions,  on  reconnois- 
sance,  followed,  under  Commander  Rodgers's  personal  inspection,  and  the  inform 
ation  he  gained  was  of  material  assistance  to  General  Gillmore  in  the  after  reduc 
tion  of  Fort  Pulaski. 

The  Flag,  needing  some  repairs,  was  now  ordered  North,  but  Commander 
Rodgers,  desiring  active  service,  requested  and  obtained  an  appointment  to  com 
mand  the  gunboat  flotilla  on  James  River,  Va.,  during  General  McClellan's  Penin 
sula  campaign.  On  May  the  fifteenth,  on  board  his  flag-ship  the  Galena,  and  in 
company  with  others  of  his  fleet,  he  attacked  Fort  Darling,  without  success,  but 
his  whole  operations  were  so  serviceable  to  the  Union  cause,  that  General  McClel- 
lan  in  his  despatches  gave  him  especial  credit. 

Commander  Rodgers  was,  after  this,  appointed  to  the  Weehawken,  and  being 
desirous  of  testing  her  qualities  at  sea,  he  boldly  stood  out  during  a  heavy  gale, 
and  safely  brought  his  vessel  to  an  anchor  in  Hampton  Roads.  He  thence  proceeded 
to  join  the  iron-clad  fleet  in  Charleston  Roads,  and  on  the  seventh  of  April,  1863, 
led  the  van  in  the  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter.  At  half-past  twelve  the  fleet  began 
to  move,  the  Weehawken  having  a  pioneer  raft  attached  to  her  bows  for  the  pur 
pose  of  exploding  torpedoes  and  clearing  away  obstructions,  but  it  soon  got  de 
ranged  and  caused  some  delay.  Finally,  progress  was  made,  and  Fort  Morris 


JOHN      RODGERS.  347 

passed  in  silence,  but  on  coming  near  Fort  Sumter,  tlic  guns  on  every  battery 
around,  instantly  opened  fire.  Captain  Rodgers,  however,  nobly  stood  in  liis 
position  until  obstructions  were  encountered  of  so  formidable  a  nature,  that  he 
.  deemed  it  best  to  move  where  lie  could  better  attack.  The  other  ships  followed, 
and  some  confusion  arose  in  consequence  of  the  narrowness  of  the  channel,  and 
the  tides.  But  the  light  was  continued  until  Admiral  Du  Pont  considered  it 
necessary  to  draw  the  vessels  off. 

With  reference  to  this  attack,  General  llunter,  who  was  on  board  a  transport 
with  some  of  his  troops  to  assist,  says  in  a  letter  to  the  Admiral :  "  I  confess 
when  the  Weehawken  first  run  under  Sumter's  guns,  receiving  the  casemate  and 
barbette  broadsides  simultaneously  with  the  similar  broadsides  from  Fort  Moul- 
trie,  and  all  the  other  works  within  range,  I  fairly  held  my  breath  until  the  smoke 
had  cleared  away,  not  expecting  to  see  a  vestige  of  the  little  vessel  which  had  pro 
voked  such  an  attack." 

In  the  month  of  June,  1863,  Admiral  Du  Pont,  having  reason  to  believe  that 
the  Atlanta  and  other  rebel  iron-clads  at  Savannah  were  about  to  enter  "Warsaw 
Sound  by  Wilmington  River,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the  blockading  vessels 
there  and  in  tke  sounds  further  south,  despatched  Captain  Rodgers  and  Com 
mander  Downes  from  Port  Royal  Harbor  for  information.  Captain  Rodgers 
departed  on  his  errand,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  seventeenth  he  discovered  an 
iron-clad  vessel  in  the  mouth  of  Wilmington  River;  also  two  other  steamers,  one 
a  side-wheel  and  the  other  a  propeller.  He  immediately  beat  to  quarters,  and 
commenced  clearing  the  ship  for  action.  In  ten  minutes  the  cable  was 
slipped,  and  his  vessel  under  steam,  and  shortly  afterward  heading  direct  for 
the  iron-clad,  which  had  the  rebel  flag  flying.  The  enemy  was  lying  across  the 
channel,  waiting  the  attack ;  and  Captain  Rodgers  commenced  firing,  at  the  dis 
tance  of  three  hundred  yards.  In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  the  enemy  hauled  down 
his  colors,  and  hoisted  the  white  flag,  sending  a  boat  on  board  the  Weehawken  to 
say  that  the  Aljanta  had  surrendered.  She  was  then  aground  on  a  sand-spit,  but 
ultimately  got  off  and  brought  into  Port  Royal  harbor.  She  had  a  complement 
of  twenty-one  officers,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  men,  including  twenty- 
eight  marines. 

With  reference  to  this  affair,  Admiral  Du  Pont  in  his  report  says  :  "  The 
department  will  notice  in  this  event  how  well  Captain  Rodgers  has  sustained  his 
distinguished  reputation,  and  added  to  the  list  of  brilliant  services  which  he  has 
rendered  to  the  country  during  the  rebellion."  In  replying  to  this,  Secretary 
Welles  sent  an  official  communication  also  to  Captain  Rodgers,  wherein  he  ex 
presses  "unaffected  pleasure  in  congratulating  him  upon  the  result"  He  adds: 
"  In  fifteen  minutes,  and  with,  five  shots,  you  overpowered  and  captured  a  formi 
dable  steamer."  He  then  refers  to  the  various  services  of  Captain  Rodgers,  and 


348  JOHN      RODGERS. 

says:  "All  this  is  proof  of  a  skill  and  courage  and  devotion  to  the  country  and 
the  cause  of  the  Union,  regardless  of  self,  that  cannot  be  permitted  to  pass  unre 
warded.  To  your  heroic  daring  and  persistent  moral  courage,  beyond  that  of 
any  other  individual,  is  the  country  indebted  for  the  development,  under  trying 
and  varied  circumstances  on  the  ocean,  under  fire  from  enormous  batteries  on 
land,  and  in  successful  encounter  with  a  formidable  antagonist,  of  the  capabili 
ties  and  qualities  of  attack  and  resistance  of  the  monitor  class  of  vessels,  and 
their  heavy  armament.  For  these  heroic  and  serviceable  acts  I  have  presented 
your  name  to  the  President,  requesting  him  to  recommend  that  Congress  give  you 
a  vote  of  thanks,  in  order  that  you  may  be  advanced  to  the  grade  of  Commodore 
in  the  American  navy." 

Subsequently  Captain  Eodgers  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  iron-clad 
Dictator. 


A.H  Ritctne 


COM.  ('    II    DAVI  S 


OHAELES    HEI^EY    DAVIS. 

REAR-ADMIRAL  C.  II.  DAVIS  entered  the  United  States  naval  service 
from  his  native  State  of  Massachusetts,  on  the  twelfth  of  August,  1823. 
He  was  made  a  lieutenant  on  the  third  of  March,  1831.  In  1835,  he  was  at 
tached  to  the  sloop-ofwar  Vincennes,  then  in  the  Pacific ;  and  two  years  later, 
we  find  him  assigned  to  the  razee  Independence,  on  special  duty. 

His  next  appointment  was  as  chief  of  a  hydrographic  party  on  the  coast 
survey.  He  remained  in  this  position  from  1842  to  1849,  but  for  some  years 
later,  was  more  or  less  connected  with  this  service.  In  1851,  an  appropriation 
was  made  by  the  Government  for  the  improvement  of  Charleston  harbor,  and  at 
the  request  of  South-Carolina,  a  commission  of  navy  and  army  officers  was  ap 
pointed  to  superintend  the  work  in  hand.  Lieutenant  Davis  was  selected  as  a 
member  of  the  commission,  in  which  duty  he  was  actively  engaged  for  three  or 
four  years. 

On  the  twelfth  of  June,  185-4,  he  was  made  a  commander,  and  found  special 
duty,  for  the  two  following  years,  as  Superintendent  of  the  Nautical  Almanac,  at 
Cambridge,  Mass. 

In  1857,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  sloop-of-war  St.  Mary's,  then  at 
tached  to  the  Pacific  squadron.  Soon  after  entering  upon  his  new  duties,  while 
stationed  on  the  Nicaragua  coast,  Commander  Davis  interposed  to  save  from 
Central  American  vengeance  the  notorious  fillibuster  William  Walker.  That 
worthy,  after  several  years  of  desultory  contest,  had  been  driven  to  the  wall  at 
Rivas,  and  was  there  compelled  to  surrender,  with  the  remnant  of  his  followers — 
some  two  hundred  in  number — on  the  first  of  May,  1857.  Commander  Davis 
successfully  interposed  and  brought  off  Walker,  with  sixteen  of  his  men,  landing 
him  at  Panama  unharmed. 

Commander  Davis  remained  in  command  of  the  St.  Mary's  until  February, 
1859,  when  he  was  relieved,  and  resumed  the  superintendence  of  the  Almanac. 

The  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  found  him  thus  peacefully  employed.  But  he 
immediately  resumed  active  service,  being  appointed  to  the  Wabash,  as  Fleet- 
Captain  of  the  South- Atlantic  Blockading  Squadron  under  Commodore  Du  Pont. 
His  experience  and  skill  were  soon  brought  into  requisition  in  this  service. 

The  cooperating  land  forces,  under  General  T.  W.  Sherman,  which  had 
cleared  from  Hampton  Roads  on  the  twenty -ninth  of  October,  having  arrived  at 


350  CHARLES      HENRY      DAVIS. 

the  rendezvous  off  Hilton  Head,  S.  C.,  the  bombardment  of  the  rebel  forts  at  that 
point  was  begun  and  carried  to  a  glorious  termination  on  the  seventh  of  Novem 
ber—  Davis's  vessel,  the  flag-ship  Wabash,  taking  the  lead  in  that  series  of  stormy 
circlings,  whose  iron  hail  struck  terror  to  the  rebel  cause. 

But,  before  the  commencement  of  the  bombardment,  the  genius  of  Captain 
Davis  had  been  called  into  important  service.  All  the  buoys  and  other  indica 
tions  of  the  harbor  channel  having  been  removed  by  the  rebels,  Captain  Davis 
was  selected,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Boutelle,  to  re-mark  the  channel,  while  the 
fleet  lay  at  anchor  outside.  The  experience  and  ability  of  Captain  Davis  speedily 
accomplished  this  difficult  duty.  It  was  in  the  morning  when  he  began,  and  by 
three  o'clock  P.M.,  the  channel  had  been  found,  duly  marked,  and  a  clear  passage 
opened  for  the  fleet. 

When  at  last  our  battle-torn  standard  floated  above  the  strong  earthworks  of 
Fort  Walker  and  Fort  Bcauregard,  Captain  Davis  must  have  contemplated  with 
peculiar  satisfaction  the  extent  of  the  rich  prize — the  solid  bastions,  the  long 
coast-guns,  etc. — to  whose  capture  his  own  services  had  so  strikingly  contributed. 

Shortly  after  the  reduction  of  these  strongholds,  Captain  Davis  was  com 
missioned  by  his  superior  to  undertake,  not  exactly  the  reduction,  but  the  nulli 
fication,  of  a  still  more  formidable  rebel  port.  In  order  to  increase  the  efficiency 
of  the  blockade  by  placing  obstructions  in  the  channel-ways  leading  to  the  harbor 
of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  the  most  important  of  the  rebel  ports,  a  fleet  of  some  twenty 
or  thirty  old  whalers  and  other  vessels  was  purchased  and  heavily  laden  with 
stone,  the  intention  being  to  sink  them  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  which  it 
was  hoped  would  effectually  keep  blockade-runners  at  a  distance.  The  plan  was 
matured.  The  vessels  were  purchased,  laden,  and  the  first  detachment  arrived  off 
Charleston  Harbor  on  the  twentieth  of  December,  1861.  As  it  was  considered 
necessary  that  the  submersion  of  the  "stone  fleet,"  as -it  was  called,  should  be 
conducted  by  one  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  intricacies  of  the  harbor  chan 
nel,  and  endowed  with  that  ability  and  skill  which  should  warrant  a  successful 
performance  of  the  enterprise,  Captain  Davis  was  selected  as  one  perfectly  quali 
fied  for  its  superintendence.  Happily  he  had,  but  a  few  years  before,  as  already 
stated,  been  employed  on  special  duty  of  a  scientific  nature,  at  that  very  harbor  ; 
and  singularly  enough — retributively,  we  might  almost  say — he  had  been  thus 
engaged  at  the  desire  of  the  authorities  of  Charleston  itself.  It  may  not  be  alto 
gether  well  to  rejoice  at  the  misfortunes  of  our  enemies,  but  it  does  afford  a  cer 
tain  complacency  at  times  to  see  the  devil  burn  himself  with  his  own  brimstone. 
With  what  different  emotions  did  the  Charleston  "  chivalry  "  behold  approaching 
their  harbor  the  Yankee  sailor  whom  they  had  honored  in  by-gone  days  ! 

Quitting  the  Wabash,  Captain  Davis  hoisted  his  pennant  on  the  Cahawba 
steamship,  and  sailed  from  Port  Royal  on  the  seventeenth  of  December.  In  two 


CHARLES   HENRY   DAVIS.  351 

days  he  arrived  off  Charleston,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  place  the  "  stone 
fleet "  in  proper  position.  The  channel-buoy  had  been  removed  by  the  rebels, 
so  that  a  considerable  amount  of  sounding  was  necessary  to  determine  the  posi 
tion  of  the  channel.  This  was  accordingly  done  on  the  following  day.  The 
members  of  the  "  stone  fleet "  were  then  towed  to  their  proper  positions.  Each 
vessel  was  provided  with  a  plug  below  the  water-line,  the  withdrawal  of  which 
would  speedily  cause  her  to  sink. 

On  the  morning  of  the  twentieth  of  December,  every  thing  was  in  readiness 
for  the  burial.  The  vessels  were  already  defunct,  but  the  obsequies,  if  imposing, 
were  brief.  The  plugs  were  drawn  out,  the  brine  rushed  in,  and  one  by  one  the 
old  hulks  crazily  settled  to  slumber  in  the  dock-yard  of  Davy  Jones.  At  half- 
past  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  last  one  disappeared,  and  the  funeral  was 
over.  A  good  view  of  the  last  hours  of  the  stone  fleet  was  obtained  from  the 
deck  of  the  Cahawba,  which  lay  just  off  the  bar ;  and  a  correspondent  of  the  New- 
York  Tribune  gives  a  description  of  the  ceremony,  in  probably  a  fitter  spirit  than 
the  above.  He  says  : 

"  It  was  rather  melancholy  to  see  old  craft,  that  had  weathered  so  many 
storms,  stripped  of  their  sails,  and  towed  in,  one  by  one,  to  be  sunk.  From  the 
position  in  which  the  Cahawba  lay,  there  was  hardly  an  opening  between  the 
ships.  An  impassable  line  of  wrecks  was  drawn  for  an  eighth  of  a  mile  between 
the  points  indicated.  All  but  two  or  three  were  careened.  Some  were  on  their 
beam-ends,  some  were  down  by  the  head,  others  by  the  stern,  and  masts,  spars, 
and  rigging  of  the  thickly  crowded  ships  were  mingled  and  tangled  in  the  great 
est  confusion." 

They  did  not  long  remain  so.  Boats  were  sent  to  cut  away  the  masts,  clear 
away  the  sails  and  gear  that  floated  aboutT  so  that  nothing  might  be  left  of  any 
use  to  the  rebels.  For  two  hours  prior  to  the  final  sinking  of  the  ships,  there  was 
a  continual  crash  of  falling  masts.  Some  of  the  vessels  died  hard,  settling  down 
very  slowly.  "And,"  observes  the  writer  already  quoted,  "it  was  difficult  to 
believe  they  were  not  afloat,  and  might  yet  sail  away  from  their  dreary  fate.  I 
think  no  one  ever  before  saw  the  masts  of  fifteen  ships-  cut  away  in  the  morning. 
When  they  were  gone,  the  desolation  was  almost  complete.  The  picture  was 
more  utterly  ruinous  and  forlorn  than  can  be  conceived." 

Having  accomplished  his  mission,  Captain  Davis  returned  to  Port  Eoyal. 
On  the  twenty-sixth  of  January,  1862,  he  took  command  of  an  expedition  whose 
object  was  a  reconnoissance  up  the  Savannah  Eiver.  lie  sailed  in  the  Ottawa, 
accompanied  by  light-draught  steamers  and  gunboats.  A  portion  of  the  expedi 
tion,  under  Captain  Davis,  proceeded  by  way  of  the  Wilmington  Narrows,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river,  while  his  second  in  command,  Captain  C.  E.  P.  Eodgers, 
pursued  another  channel.  They  entered  the  river  at  opposite  sides,  but  were 


352  CHARLES   HENRY   DAVIS. 

both  arrested  in  their  progress  by  piles  driven  in  the  river.  While  detained 
before  these  obstructions,  Commodore  Tatnall,  of  the  rebel  navy,  came  down  the 
river  from  Savannah,  with  five  gunboats,  and  a  fleet  of  lighters  in  tow,  with  pro 
visions  for  Fort  Pulaski.  A  skirmish  resulted,  wherein  Captain  Davis,  over 
matched  by  superior  force,  was  compelled  to  return  to  Port  Eoyal,  without, 
however,  sustaining  any  damage. 

Soon  after  this,  Captain  Davis  was  promoted,  and  assigned  to  service  in  the 
Department  of  the  "West. 

He  assumed  command  of  the  Western  Flotilla  on  the  tenth  of  May,  1862. 
Soon  after  seven  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  that  day,  while  his  fleet  was  moored 
to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  just  above  Fort  Pillow,  the  rebel  squadron,  num 
bering  eight  iron-clad  steamers,  came  round  the  point  and  opened  fire.  This  was 
spiritedly  returned,  and  the  engagement  which  ensued  lasted  about  an  hour,  when 
the  enemy  beat  a  retreat  below  the  guns  of  the  Fort.  Commodore  Davis  was 
incessantly  and  actively  engaged  in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Pillow.  Upon  the 
evacuation  of  that  place  by  the  rebels,  he  immediately  started  for  Memphis  with 
his  gallant  fleet,  and  arrived  there  on  the  fifth  of  June,  anchoring  a  mile  and  a 
half  above  the  city.  Next  morning  the  rebel  rams  and  gunboats  were  discovered 
lying  at  the  levee,  and  an  engagement  commenced  at  five  A.M.  Who  does  not 
remember  that  glorious  morning  of  victory  ?  The  enemy  opened  the  ball,  at  the 
same  time  keeping  well  in  at  the  levee,  in  order  to  expose  the  city  to  the  effects 
of  our  shot.  But  they  soon  discovered  that  they  had  no  delicate-handed  foe  to 
deal  with.  We  gave  them  iron  for  iron,  with  generous  interest,  regardless  of 
consequences. 

Meantime  two  of  the  National  rams,  commanded  by  Colonel  Ellet,  the  Queen 
of  the  West  and  the  Monarch,  steamed  past  the  flag-ship,  and  drove  fearlessly 
down  upon  the  enemy's  line.  The  rebel  steamer  General  Lovell  went  down 
before  the  charge  of  the  Queen  of  the  West,  who,  however,  did  not  escape  damage 
herself.  The  Union  gunboats,  meantime,  continued  their  destructive  fire,  which 
soon  disposed  of  two  more  of  the  rebel  craft,  when  the  remainder,  after  a  contest 
of  several  hours,  ingloriously  turned,  and  put  on  all  steam  to  escape  down  the 
river.  But  Flag-Officer  Davis  pursued  them  closely  for  about  ten  miles,  destroy 
ing  some  and  capturing  others. 

The  rebel  officers  and  crews  endeavored  to  reach  the  shore,  but  many  of 
them  were  captured.  The  victory  was  complete.  Thousands  of  confident  Mem- 
phians  had  thronged  the  levees  and  wharves  to  witness  the  fight.  The  surrender 
of  the  city  was,  of  course,  a  consequent  of  the  victory.  That  rendition  was  form 
ally  made  by  the  Mayor  of  Memphis,  and  military  possession  was  immediately 
taken  by  the  National  troops. 

Two  weeks  after  this  brilliant  affair,  while  Commodore  Davis,  with  his  fleet, 


CHARLES      HEXRY      DAVIS.  353 

still  lay  ofT  the  city,  he  received  information  that  the  gunboat  expedition  up 
White  River  had  successfully  attacked  two  important  rebel  batteries,  and 
removed  certain  obstructions  by  which  the  navigation  of  that  stream  had  been 
impeded.  In  reply  to  Commodore  Davis's  report,  Secretary  Welles  said  :  "  The 
intelligence  of  the  continued  success  of  the  Navy  is  most  gratifying." 

On  the  sixteenth  of  October,  1862,  Commodore  Davis  was  relieved  of  his 
command,  and  thereupon  proceeded  to  Washington,  where  he  was  made  Chief  of 
the  Bureau  of  Navigation.  On  the  seventh  of  February,  1863,  he  was  made  a 
Bear-Admiral. 

Admiral  Davis  has  been  over  forty  years  in  the  naval  service  of  his  country, 
and  in  all  that  time  only  five  years  and  two  months  unemployed. 


THE   END. 


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